SOUTH AUSTRALIAN VISITOR AND TRAVEL CENTRE

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:10): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Tourism questions regarding the SA Travel Centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: As members would be aware, the SA Travel Centre has been at the centre, ironically, of much discussion of late, particularly around access to the new building in which the centre is located. The Minister for Tourism, the Hon. John Rau, was on 891 this morning saying:

I'm obviously very disappointed that this whole process [that is, the tenure] has become the focus of the attention it has, not because I personally have done anything wrong but because it's detracting from the really good work the Commission's doing.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister truly believe that focusing on improving access to the building for all people is detracting from the good work rather than adding to it?

2. Will the minister retract these comments?

3. Why did the tenure go ahead, seemingly without the knowledge of the inaccessibility of the new building on behalf of the minister?

4. Were any exemptions to accessibility standards sought and granted and, if so, which?

5. When will we see an official plan regarding accessibility to the SA Tourism Centre?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for her important questions and will refer them to the Minister for Tourism in another place and bring back a response.