House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Member for Mawson Member for Mawson The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER House of Assembly Morialta Deputy Leader of the Opposition Member for Mawson The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Has the Minister for Tourism met with the member for Mawson to be briefed on his recent mission to Doha, Switzerland, Sweden, the French Alps and London to increase tourism in South Australia and, if so, what did she learn in this briefing? Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call. The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS House of Assembly Croydon Premier The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:59): The Major Events Fund policy that we took to the election and was funded in the budget handed down in June sits with myself as the Premier of South Australia. It sits within DPC, as do the administrative arrangements that underpin the Major Events Attraction Committee that is being chaired by the member for Mawson. I was very glad, not just upon the return of the member for Mawson from his overseas visit, not just then but also throughout the entirety of the visit, to be in regular contact with the member for Mawson, who is using his wealth of experience and, dare I say, extensive suite of contacts to advocate the state's interests when it comes to the attraction of events to our state. That allocation of $40 million within the state budget we see as being a very powerful economic lever to provide not just more events for South Australians to enjoy but, far more important than that, as a powerful economic lever to showcase everything the state has to offer to broader audiences who may not have otherwise had access to or visibility over everything that South Australia has to offer. The member for Mawson's trip overseas has been incredibly useful already. There are a number of efforts that are currently in train both by the Major Events Attraction Committee and Events SA and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to now pursue those opportunities so that they materialise the great chance that they present to showcase everything our state has to offer. Be under no illusions, this government is extremely committed to expanding the calendar of events that we have here in South Australia. We are obviously re-establishing the Adelaide 500. I might take the opportunity to mention that if any South Australians are listening and keen on getting to the Adelaide 500 they might want to purchase their tickets very quickly. This is a demonstration. I welcome the opposition's interest in the Adelaide 500. That's healthy and we hope it continues. We know, of course, that this government is committed to major events, not just the ones that we are bringing back, and also expanding the scope of them into the future. That's why the Major Events Attraction Committee and the member for Mawson are so important.