Tourism and Hospitality

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay) (15:14): I rise today as the shadow minister for trade, tourism and investment. Over the last two weeks, I have been talking to restaurant and cafe owners, hotel managers and tourism operators. They have been some very difficult conversations for people who have already been experiencing a tough time.

Thirty-nine thousand South Australians work in hospitality and tourism, and their concern is what is happening. There is a lack of clarity. We hear from the Prime Minister what is happening today without him foreshadowing what is likely to occur next. But we have examples in New Zealand, for example, where they have been very clear about the different stages and the elements of those stages. We can all read and we all hear what is happening internationally. Do not insult us. We know things are going to get difficult. What is our plan?

I listened to the Prime Minister last night and I heard the politics of division. He said that all workers are essential. What does this mean to tourism and hospitality workers who have just lost their jobs? This is very divisive. People are hurt by these words. We are all in this together. When I speak to people I hear their worries and I hear their concerns: how are they going to afford their food and their rent? How are they going to pay for utilities to keep things going? What I heard very clearly was the lack of time that they had to prepare. There was a lack of time to know what the different stages would bring, and now they are lining up in front of Centrelink.

What are the impacts to our hospitality and tourism industries? First and foremost, I heard from people how heartbreaking it has been for them to let staff go. These are staff who have dedicated themselves to their business, who are part and parcel of the team, and they had to say with very little notice, 'I can't employ you anymore because we have shut our doors.' They are very concerned about how they are going to pay for their leases and their rents. Most importantly, they say to me, 'I don't know if my business will survive.'

Labor has called for constructive immediate action, a rescue package, cancelling our fees, charges and taxes, and we want to work with industry, with a task force. What we need is decisive action. My words to the Premier, a Premier who has taken on the role as Minister for Tourism, are that we have no time to lose. Please release the details of your economic stimulus. Today you are talking about a second package and people do not know what was in your first package. We may have moved first, but there is a severe lack of detail.

We looked to Tasmania recently for some influence. There, the Premier is also the tourism minister. What did Tasmania do? On 17 March, more than a week ago, Tasmania released a detailed package for businesses, with a great focus on supporting tourism and hospitality businesses. This week, the Adelaide city council moved to have a three-month moratorium on rents for shops that they own and the Central Market. Premier, I call on you to support this industry and to support them now.

When I had these difficult conversations people said to me, 'My business might stand still for six months, but what I want to know is that I can flourish quickly when this is over. I need confidence and support from this government.'