Ministerial Statement

TOURISM COMMISSION

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) (14:19): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on tourism.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I recently requested that the SATC board consider how it could focus the SATC business to better leverage activities to drive tourism in the state and how resources and expenditure would best be directed towards promoting South Australia. In addition to previous savings requirements, the South Australian Tourism Commission is required to find a further $1.2 million per annum savings arising out of the Mid-Year Budget Review.

Earlier today the Governor accepted the recommendation made by me and the SATC board that the position occupied by the current full-time chief executive of the South Australian Tourism Commission be replaced with a part-time chief executive in order to create the efficiencies within the commission and drive the savings targets. I am advised that the board was unanimous in its deliberations.

I am pleased to advise the chamber that the new chief executive of the South Australian Tourism Commission will be Ms Jane Jeffreys. Ms Jeffreys commences her role as chief executive and will also retain her role as chair of the SATC board. Ms Jeffreys is obviously in a very unique position to drive tourism in SA. Her experience as SATC chair gives her not only an insight into the important and significant role of the commission but also means that her network skills and knowledge in the tourism sector can be better utilised for the good of tourism in this state.

Ms Jeffreys has extensive experience working with boards and senior management teams to ensure maximum efficiency and performance. I am sure that in this role as an executive chair she will be of great assistance in the restructuring and repositioning of the Tourism Commission. Her appointment as chief executive is intended to be for no more than 12 months. I am confident that Ms Jeffreys will structure the agency in such a way as to ensure the efficient operation of the organisation and will deliver on the necessary savings.

I would like to thank the outgoing chief executive for his hard work and commitment to the tourism sector in South Australia and I wish him all the best for the future. As I am sure members are aware, with organisational restructures there are one-off transitional costs. The effect of the outgoing CEO's contract is that he will receive a severance package of approximately nine months' remuneration.

I believe that a revitalised operational structure for the SATC will deliver significant savings in the longer term, coupled with the government's recent commitment to a set of strategic priorities which underpin the government's directions and will drive the commission's efforts to maximise the promotion of South Australia as a tourist destination.