Adelaide International Tattoo

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Will the government provide funding so that the Adelaide International Tattoo can continue as planned?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (15:04): The Major Events Attraction Committee sits within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Naturally, DPC works in close collaboration with SATC about formulating a range of judgements. Of course, the Major Events Attraction Committee, as chaired by the member for Mawson, works closely on that as well.

We are a government that has sought to make a number of investments in major events, as has been well documented. There is a process that is undertaken between the SATC and the Major Events Attraction Committee to determine the potential return to the state of various events' investments. One of the key metrics that we seek to move is interstate visitation. An assessment was done in respect of this project, and it was determined that it would not be funded through those means. It is important to appreciate that for the investments that we have made in respect of major events we have been very determined to run a thorough economic examination over each of them to make sure that we are delivering the desired outcome.

I know that those opposite have found themselves on the side of being opposed to events. They opposed a number of events—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Premier, there is a point of order, which I am bound to hear. Member for Morialta, on a point of order.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98, debate: the question was specific to one project and whether it will be funded.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I will listen carefully. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Having expressed substantial, persistent and continued opposition to major events in South Australia, the opposition have now decided that the tattoo is the one. That's the one.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Not the Adelaide 500.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Not the Adelaide 500, not Gather Round, not LIV Golf, no, it's the tattoo—that's the one.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: If South Australians are looking for a bit of ideological consistency from the alternate government of the state around what major events they support and which ones they don't, if they are looking for any policy consistency, this is not the area to look into. On this side of the house, there is an ideological consistency.

The SPEAKER: Order! There's a point of order from the member for Morialta, which I will hear.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the question was very straightforward on whether the government would fund the international tattoo.

The SPEAKER: Order! In resolving the point of order, I give consideration to what fell from Speaker Eastick in 1979:

Although members, including Ministers, may not debate the answer to a question, Ministers have…been allowed more latitude than have other members. This has been the practice in this House and in the House of Commons for many years.

Of course, that leaves it largely a question of debate. I will bring the Premier to the question.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I am glad to know the legacy of Bruce Eastick goes beyond the Bruce Eastick dam, which we know is in the northern part of outer metropolitan Adelaide. The assessment was made diligently, carefully to assess whether or not the tattoo would be a best-bang-for-buck investment from the Major Events Attraction Committee. Of course—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: While I appreciate the legitimate disappointment from some that we have failed to do that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —if those opposite want to go to the election with their major events policy—

Mr Telfer interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —centred on the tattoo, that's fine. We will focus on ones that deliver thousands of jobs for South Australians.