TASTES OF THE OUTBACK

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (16:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about the Tastes of the Outback festivities.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Each April, the Flinders Ranges and the Outback are the backdrop for four days of Tastes of the Outback festivities. Tastes of the Outback showcases the food and wine that the region has to offer. Will the minister tell the chamber about the 2012 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) (16:05:): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. Our wonderful Flinders Ranges and Outback region was the place to find world-class food, wine and entertainment during the 2012 Tastes of the Outback festival held this past weekend (30 March to 1 April). I am delighted to inform members that the SATC provided funding of $15,000 to Tastes of the Outback 2012 through its regional events and festivals program.

The event is run by a local event manager and tourism operators, and I am sure members will join me in congratulating them for what I hear was a very successful event. A range of food and wine-based events were held and I am told that these were events for the whole family to enjoy. I understand that one of the big events was the Outback Ball, which was held at the Royal Flying Doctor Service hangar in Port Augusta. The event was a sell-out, so I am told, with 300 guests attending on Saturday 31 March. Guests were rewarded with amazing sunset views of the very picturesque Flinders Ranges, and a night of fine food with lots of wine and dancing.

I understand that the three-course meal, featuring the region's local produce, was served along with Southern Flinders wines. It was pleasing to note that the proceeds from this long-running event went to benefit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Remote and Isolated Children's Exercise and Your Space and FlipSyde Youth Health Services. I am advised that more than $14,000 was raised from the auction items—and they are to be absolutely congratulated for that effort—which included holiday packages and sports memorabilia.

Other events included the Aussie Tea held at the Rawnsley Park Caravan Park and the Camp Oven Dinner on Saturday 31 March. At the North Star Hotel in Melrose the Platter That Matters event was held to allow people to consume the best of the region's seasonal cuisine with a free wine tasting of Bundaleer Wines also on offer.

The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre at Peterborough saw what I am told was South Australia's first and only sound and light show. Attendees were also offered a taste of the outback with locally-grown olive oil and locally-grown and prepared food on offer. Visitors were also able to inspect the historic carriages which traversed the outback on the Transcontinental and The Ghan. Magnificent Wilpena Pound Resort hosted sessions of wine and native food tasting, while the Innamincka Hotel served up prime South Australian cuts, flame-grilled on redgum charcoal, all matched with South Australian wines.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I hear the honourable member groaning behind me; he is obviously very hungry! Finally, at the Wild Lime Cafe and Gallery at Blinman the multimedia exhibition was held from 30 March to 2 April. I am sure that all those who attended the Tastes of the Outback were very pleased to sample some of the amazing experiences and culinary and other delights that the region obviously has to offer.