TOURISM, KANGAROO ISLAND

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about tourism developments on Kangaroo Island.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I have been advised that Chinese business people have expressed an interest in building a tourism resort and a Buddhist retreat on Kangaroo Island. In fact, they have had discussions with members of the government. I am also advised that this Chinese group has also offered to take the entire elected Kangaroo Island Council on a trip to China to view its overseas operations. My questions to the minister are:

1. Have you as tourism minister or have any other ministers had discussions with Chinese interests in relation to the tourism development and the Buddhist retreat on Kangaroo Island?

2. Do you think it is appropriate for a developer of this nature to offer to take the entire local council on an overseas trip?

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) (15:00): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. This is so typical of the opposition. First of all, it was very good of the Hon. David Ridgway to make it into question time. I hope we did not interrupt anything important that he was doing in order to make it here eventually; it is nice that he could make it.

This is just so typical. Here we have potentially an opportunity for investment in terms of a very important tourism destination in South Australia, a destination where we are investing considerable sums of money in terms of a marketing campaign to attract tourism and other interests to the area. Here we have potentially some interest in investment in the island, and what do we get? We get the opposition coming in here and whingeing and whining and bemoaning and casting innuendo, too—

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Point of order, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: At no stage did I whinge, whine or cast innuendo.

The PRESIDENT: What is your point of order?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The point of order is that she's misleading the parliament.

The PRESIDENT: Relevance? No point of order.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Innuendo, that in some way something improper has been done. That was the innuendo. Again, the opposition's innuendo that something improper was occurring and cast in the negative term. It was not cast in the positive term; that is, does the minister think it is a wonderful idea to be encouraging councillors? No, he casts it all in the negative, suggesting that there is something improper and something wrong going on, a bit of graft and corruption. This is what the opposition is always suggesting; the innuendo is always there; it is always negative and it is always talking down opportunities for South Australia. That is what the opposition comes in here and does—always talking down opportunities.

Regarding this information, I am only aware of very preliminary inquiries and interest by this particular group. To the best of my knowledge, neither I nor my ministerial officers have met with any particular agents involved in this project. As I said, that is to the best of my knowledge and I am happy to check that. To the best my knowledge, there has only been some very general, very preliminary interest in this matter. To the best of my knowledge, I have not heard any proposals to be taking all council members or any councillors anywhere. I am very happy to put that information on the record.

Nevertheless, I want to make the point that, time and time again the opposition comes in here and instead of talking up opportunities for investment, instead of encouraging these interests and encouraging these organisations to come forward, what it does is scare the bejesus out of them. All these companies become terrified that they are going to be named here in parliament by members of the opposition, named in this place and the innuendo inferring that somehow their practices are improper. That is what is so damaging. That is what talks down interest and that is what scares away industry because they are terrified they are going to be named here and, as I said, have this nasty, unsubstantiated innuendo cast against them. It is irresponsible. It is an irresponsible thing to do, and the opposition should be talking up this state, encouraging investment and encouraging opportunity, not just for KI but for all of South Australia.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway has a supplementary.