TOUR DOWN UNDER

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I am sure that many honourable members enjoyed the buzz of the 2012 Tour Down Under. Can the minister tell us about some of the highlights of the event?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:48): I thank the honourable member for her important question: it is quite refreshing to get a well considered and well thought out question at last. Someone has been doing some work over the break, I am pleased to notice.

The 2012 Santos Tour Down Under was held from 15 to 22 January, and I am delighted to report that, once again, the event was a tremendous success, although official numbers regarding the attendance, as well as the economic impact, will not be available until later this month. Early estimates from SAPOL are that the event was attended by about 753,000 people. If these figures are accurate, it will mean it is the fourth consecutive year that the event topped the 750,000 mark.

This year's event was particularly exciting from a local standpoint, with the Australian rider Simon Gerrans, from new Australian cycling team GreenEDGE, winning. I am told that this was his second win at the event. His first win was in 2006. He now joins the esteemed company of the local favourite, Stuart O'Grady, and German sprinter Andre Greipel as the only riders to win the event twice. The 2012 race started in Prospect for the first time, made a return to Clare for the finish and remained in the Adelaide Hills for all of stage 2, which was Lobethal to Stirling. Around 110,000 people were estimated to have attended the Coleman stage 2, which I am advised is a record for that stage. In an event first, stage 5 finished on top of Old Willunga Hill, which was a great success and a very exciting climb to the top.

The Santos Tour Down Under is a terrific event for our state and not only provides a fantastic week of entertainment for South Australians but also makes a significant economic contribution, and it is free and family friendly. It is just a terrific event, and based on a very healthy pursuit—cycling—so it ticks all the boxes. I am advised that the 2011 event injected around $43 million into the state's economy and generated about $150 million in media coverage for South Australia.

Last year's event was also crowned Australian Event of the Year and Best Tourism Event at the Australian Event Awards, held in Sydney in October that year, and was entered into the Hall of Fame for its third consecutive win as the Best Major Festival or Event in the 2011 South Australian Tourism Awards. The tour also plays a role in the development of cycling in South Australia. It is great to see the streets full of cyclists in the weeks leading up to the tour and afterwards as local riders train for the Bupa Challenge.

The challenge, presented by The Advertiser, was held on Friday 20 January, and this recreational ride, which began in 2003, was known as the Mutual Community Challenge. The event provides cycling enthusiasts with the opportunity to ride the same route as the world's best cyclists just hours later. The 2012 ride included four distances, and participants could ride all the way from Norwood to Tanunda or shorter rides. I am told that over 7,000 people rode in that challenge and that over 350 children rode in the Mini Tour for Kids event.

Another highlight was the attendance of Eddy Merckx, whom I had the pleasure of meeting—and what an amazing gentleman he is. A five-time winner of the Tour de France, Mr Merckx is regarded by many as the world's greatest cyclist. During a professional career that spanned 1965 to 1987, Mr Merckx wore the yellow jersey for a record 96 days and won every major classic and one-day event in road cycling.

I congratulate the race director, Mike Turtur, and the team at EventsSA, and the South Australian Tourism Commission on their tremendous efforts in putting together an extremely successful event.