TOURISM OPERATOR, INNAMINCKA

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (14:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment a question about tourism in Innamincka.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER: I have part of a letter from the proprietor of Cooper Discoverer Cruises in which he refers on a couple of occasions to National Parks. However, on inquiry, his complaint is indeed with the Department for Environment and Heritage. His letter states:

...I have been forced to cease my cruise boat operation on Cooper Creek at Innamincka.

The constant financial harassment from National Parks and the continual demand of 10 per cent of my turnover—which is far greater than the percentage incurred by the majority of operators...combined with the lack of help from Tourism SA over the past six years, has forced me into this position of having to cease operation.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no incentive to operate in these harsh, remote environments—just very large disincentives…my attempts to negotiate with National Parks all have failed. If you wish to pen a letter—

which is a letter to his customers—

in support of my situation, please send direct to federal counterparts...as I have found over the last six years on a state level, that will only get a 'Yes Minister' response, if any at all.

My questions are:

1. Is the minister aware that her department has forced this tour operator out of business?

2. Does she believe that 10 per cent of turnover is excessive for what is called a 'visitor user fee'?

3. What services are provided at Innamincka for these visitor user services and fees?

4. Why have departmental officers refused to negotiate with this operator?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:52): I am not aware of this specific case nor of any correspondence to me from this person (although this person's name was not mentioned—not that I am asking for that in parliament); however, my office may have, and I am not too sure whether or not the department has received any communication. I would be very pleased to receive from the honourable member a copy of the correspondence.

If the honourable member were really concerned about the interests of this individual, I would have thought she would approach me or my senior officers and attempt to do something about it.

The Hon. C.V. Schaefer interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am not aware of any correspondence from this person. He may have been communicating for six years, but it certainly has not been with me that I recall, although I do receive a lot of correspondence. However, I am sure that I would remember an issue such as this. I will check my correspondence.

As I do not know the specific details of this operator, I can speak only in general terms. Of course, the department's responsibility is to protect the environment of our very important parks and reserves. We spend a great deal of money on their management and upkeep, and they are critical to our tourism industry not just because of environmental and biodiversity values in their own right but also because of their important link with tourism.

This government is very sensitive to business interests and the South Australian economy overall, so we work hard to attract and support local businesses, not just in terms of the impact it has on the individual person and their families but we are also aware of the importance of supporting local and regional communities and their contribution to the economy overall. So these are important links and this government is very sensitive to those and we try to balance those interests wherever we possibly can, and sometimes that is a very challenging and difficult thing to do.

I am not too sure of the sorts of impacts this operation may be having on the environment. Around Innamincka it is a very sensitive and valuable environment. In general terms visitor fees contribute to the maintenance and management of our reserves system, the maintenance of roads and visitor amenities, and the management of things like weeds, feral animals and such like. To my knowledge, they are the sorts of things that visitor fees assist.

I am certainly not aware that my agency or ministerial office has refused to negotiate with this person: I find that very hard to believe. My department has a very good history of working with members of the public. After all, our reserves system is a community and public asset, and my department has a very strong track record of working well with the public. That is not to say that there are not at times a very challenging set of different interests that have to be balanced. If the honourable member cares to afford me the courtesy of showing me the details of this complaint, I am more than happy to follow it up.