Question Time

VAILO Adelaide 500

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): My question is to the Premier. What due diligence does the government undertake when engaging sponsors for major events? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: It was reported in The Advertiser that on Wednesday 6 November, the offices of VAILO, naming rights partner to the Adelaide 500, were raided by agents from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Tax Office.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on both sides will come to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition and the Minister for Infrastructure, the Premier will be heard in silence.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:05): A lot of research is done into the sponsors that the government engages with. The VAILO sponsorship agreement with the Adelaide 500 has a three-year naming rights agreement. That three-year naming rights agreement started a couple of years ago. This is the third year of that exercise, so it concludes at the end of this year, but there is an option for a two-year further extension if both parties deem it appropriate.

Naturally, the news in the media regarding the inquiries or the activity with the AFP or the ATO in regard to Mr Hickmann is a matter that will run its course. I understand from statements that have been released by Mr Hickmann's lawyers that that is associated with a—

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley will come to order.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I understand, from the statement by Mr Hickmann's lawyers that it related—or they have explained it as a matter relating to inquiries associated with tax obligations with the ATO which, of course, the South Australian government doesn't have any visibility over. Notwithstanding the fact, from the South Australian government's position, through the Motor Sport Board, the advice that we have received is that VAILO has been a good payer in terms of its obligations—which are substantial—to the state, or to the Motor Sport Board regarding the sponsorship arrangements. That is something we will continue to monitor. There are very serious obligations upon VAILO to meet under that sponsorship agreement and it will be our expectation that those agreements are honoured.

But, I will tell you what: it is interesting that the fervour and the excitement that we see from the opposition—if they can identify any point of failure or any frustration associated with the Adelaide 500, they are all over it like a rash. They are all over it like a rash because the position—at least the former member for Black had the courage—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —to acknowledge that those opposite with their cultural opposition, their dislike of the Adelaide 500—at least the former member for Black had the political smarts to realise that that was not a sustainable position. But now that the former member for Black is no longer in parliament, we see the leaders are back at it. They are back at it at every opportunity, seeking to criticise the Adelaide 500. The member for Morialta is very excited and very agitated and he is interjecting. That's okay. Go your hardest.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta, you are on your final warning.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Go your hardest. Please critique the Adelaide 500 at your pleasure; meanwhile, on this side of the house, we are going to back this race in. We are going to back this race in because everybody knows that the South Australian Liberals hate the Adelaide 500; they cancelled the Adelaide 500, they sought to sell off all the equipment to do with the Adelaide 500, and only the Labor Party is committed to this event. We brought it back, tourism operators like it, South Australians like it, motor sport enthusiasts around the country like it, and that's why if they keep voting Labor they will keep getting the Adelaide 500, and if they vote Liberal we know what will happen.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elder will come to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Trade will come to order.