Taxi Industry

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (15:09): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government. Can the minister update the house on how the government is reducing costs for tour operators, country taxi services and chauffeur operators?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (15:09): We know that during COVID-19 various sections of regional South Australia have suffered, especially those connected to the tourism industry, whether that be in my electorate or in the member for Kavel's electorate. He and I have had discussions around the impacts the restrictions have had on, for instance, charter bus operators being able to take people to wineries—some of their bread-and-butter business—especially as some of them were looking to come out of what was a horrible bushfire season and hopefully rebuild by being able to essentially use the state government's #BookThemOut campaign to encourage people to go back to the Adelaide Hills.

But then, when the coronavirus hit and restrictions were put in place, it again made it all the more difficult for those same communities. It is why, using the government's economic and business jobs fund, we're putting $1 million on the table to essentially forgive accreditation fees for bus operators, those tour operators who we know suffered as the coronavirus restrictions came down. They are the same bus operators whom I know have benefitted greatly from the easing of restrictions over the course of the last few weeks.

There are also country taxis. Country taxis are in a different situation from metropolitan taxis, and I appreciate the question the member for Mount Gambier gave in the last sitting week around the difficulties they have had. They are impacted differently from the way that metropolitan Adelaide is but are still worthy of support. That is, again, why they are included as part of this $1 million forgiving of fees over the next 12 months.

Then we have chauffer operators who, again, provide a more personalised service especially for incoming tourists, whether they be from interstate or overseas, providing them with an experience that helps to show off the best that South Australia has to offer. I have certainly had some very positive feedback from regional electorates right across South Australia and my own electorate, from my two taxi services, as well as from a number of small tour operators.

They are small businesses that have availed themselves of other schemes that the federal government has put in place in relation to JobSeeker and JobKeeper, but also should and now have support from their state government, forgiving fees that they would otherwise need to pay. We are doing what we can to help small businesses to grow, thrive and survive thorough this coronavirus pandemic.