Tourism

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting South Australia's regional tourism industry?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:14): Yes, I can.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: And it's not just because I had a coffee at the Boston Bean with the member for Flinders when I was last in Eyre Peninsula, or a beer at Beer Garden Brewing with the member for Flinders, but because we understand that tourism is a crucial part of the South Australian economy—40,000 South Australians are employed in over 18,000 businesses. Today, the Marshall Liberal government has announced a new Skilling South Australia project. The Tourism Industry Council of South Australia is delivering the pilot initiative, which will encourage business owners to take on an apprentice—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —and attract young people into rewarding career pathways—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee and member for West Torrens!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —across the South Australian tourism sector. The pilot involves—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The pilot involves the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia working with TAFE SA to deliver training for 20 Eyre Peninsula jobseekers. They will gain skills required to work in the state's regional tourism sector and be supported into full-time apprenticeships, in this instance a Certificate III in Tourism, with tourism operators across Eyre Peninsula.

South Australia's visitor economy has risen to $7.6 billion. The regions in particular have seen tremendous growth—$3.3 billion spent outside of metropolitan Adelaide. A component of the $130,000 project of Skilling South Australia will support the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia to promote training opportunities to their strong membership base, including through their planned statewide business development workshops. Tourism operators will be introduced to the benefits of hiring an apprentice or trainee through 27 events. The first one is being held today in our tourism mecca, Kangaroo Island.

I spoke with the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Industry Council, Shaun de Bruyn, just last week and he was very excited about the new project. He said tourism employers, particularly in regional South Australia, need more staff with a broad range of skills. The new project is one of 90 Skilling South Australia projects up and running to date, codesigned directly with industry—a stark contrast to what those opposite were offering when they were in government.

We are working to skill South Australians for the new and growing industries here in South Australia. The project is just another example of delivering new job outcomes while working directly with industry through our Skilling South Australia program. I endorse the comments of the Premier earlier—a 28.8 per cent increase in the number of trainees and apprentices in the first six months of this year, compared with the first six months of last year.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.