Tourism Industry

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay) (16:11): I thank you, Mr Speaker, and I rise today on what I thought might have been the last week of parliament for the term. As you have indicated, it is likely that we will sit more weeks, but this is an opportunity for me to reflect on tourism over the past four years. It has been an incredibly difficult time for our industry, but it has been made all the more difficult by the cuts of the divided Marshall Liberal government.

Let's just reflect on this. In 2018-19, the first budget—an $11 million cut overnight to an industry that is a huge employer in this state across the whole of South Australia. It was that $11 million cut that made me start the brand Tourism Equals Jobs and it is through that time that I connected with the stakeholders who were outraged that this new government came in and punished the industry. It was one of the first things they decided to do.

If we go on to 2019-20, it happened again. There were more cuts to come—$12 million over the forward estimates. So let me just tell you, when we reflect on these four years, even before we get to COVID, this industry felt unsupported and unrecognised by the impact on our economy.

Of course, we had a change of minister. Minister Ridgway retired from the frontbench and the Premier took the portfolio. This happened at a time when the industry was hit incredibly badly during the summer due to the bushfires in both the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island. We thought that that was incredibly impactful, but little did we know how much COVID would come and damage what was such a healthy part of our economy.

It was in March 2020, although it started back in January, when we had a restriction of Chinese tourists here to South Australia when COVID hit and overnight so many businesses just shut. They had to shut their doors and this was devastating for people.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I do not see what is so funny, Tim. People around South Australia overnight did not know what was going to happen. We know that our health and safety were put as a priority, but certainly tourism and hospitality have borne the brunt of this.

Let's not forget that at a high, the value of the tourism industry was $8.1 billion in December 2019. At its lowest, in March 2021 it was $4.4 billion. That is not quite half but just think of that impact, and what is that impact? It is businesses that employ South Australians. They are often very small, micro family businesses that have borne the brunt of COVID.

Of course, along came the decision to axe the Adelaide 500—gone—a decision that was put down to COVID, but we know how much this is loved. This government made the decision. This divided Marshall Liberal government said, 'Let's get rid of this much-loved event. We don't need it anymore.' We know what Labor's commitment is: we are bringing it back.

I want to take the time to thank the people in this industry who have stood up, who have made their voices heard, and I will start first with Sam Henderson. Sam Henderson is an amazing kid. We know his passion for the Adelaide 500 and he said, 'Being cancelled should not be how the story of the Adelaide 500 should end.' I thank Sam for his dedication.

I want to thank those tourism operators who have stood by me, particularly when JobKeeper ended and there was no additional support. Dallas Coull said, 'While segments of the industry are doing better than ever, as a whole the tourism industry is in real trouble.' Hassie from Xplore Eyre said, 'Our business would be down conservatively 85 to 90 per cent at present. I am sure I am not alone.' Chook from the Chook's Little Winery Tours said:

So now we are expected to carry decisions made by government and government departments without any thought for how great companies like ours are going to survive.

I also thank 'Lunch' Doudle, Matthew Kurko and Martin Gribble, people who have stood by me to make sure that their voices were heard, and to try to drag this government to continue their support for tourism and hospitality.