Question Time

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL CENTRE

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question regarding a nightmare in her portfolio.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Tourism is a $5 billion a year industry in South Australia. In response, the minister moves our showcase South Australian Travel Centre from high profile King William Street into a grotto in Grenfell Street. Now she is moving it again, even further from the heart of our city. Visitors will not find the visitor centre. Because of this minister there is no information about where to get visitor information. The opposition has information that the minister plans to move the centre, not just once, not just twice, but a third time. My question is: how long will the travel centre be hidden away in North Terrace and when will you announce the location of its final resting place?

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) (14:25): It was with a great deal of pleasure that I announced today the location of our visitor information centre at North Terrace, co-located with Service SA. The centre will be open for business as of Sunday 1 July. It will offer a seven day a week service, with free internet and wi-fi facilities. It is an ideal location, after the lease arrangements with our previous lessee were changed.

At that time, we announced that we would conduct a review of the service model for a visitor centre, given the changing demands of our general public. That review was completed, a number of different models were looked at and the South Australian Tourism Commission decided that this option on North Terrace was the best option available. It is indeed an ideal location. It is co-located but it will be a separate service arrangement from that of Service SA. We will be profiling our tourism products to around about 600 people per day who come through the doors of Service SA.

The service is located on a major hotel strip. I think there are about nine hotels within a kilometre radius of the place. The Adelaide Convention Centre is just across the road. Figures from last year show that something like 18,000 visitors to South Australia were delegates who used the convention centre. The Casino is also across the road. The location is well serviced by public transport, with the tram out the front and the railway station across the road. It is ideally strategically located given that it is going to be part of a precinct that has been earmarked for a major redevelopment, with the Riverside redevelopment project in place and the Adelaide Oval.

It will be a major tourism hub, and our visitor centre service will be located right in the centre of it. So, we are very pleased with this outcome. As usual, the opposition comes into this place ill-informed and with incorrect information. The Hon. David Ridgeway has come into this place, yet again, with incorrect information. He misleads this place time and time again. This is not an interim arrangement. There are no plans to relocate the service from the Service SA co-location. So, yet again, the opposition has come into this place and misled the chamber with incorrect and inaccurate information.

In relation to signage, as I said, the place will not be opened until Sunday. We are completing the fit-out and signage within the near future. So, it will be well signed. It is a delightful space. If honourable members care to go in there, it is bright and light, there is plenty of room for a large service counter and for staff to offer a counter service to visitors.