Question Time

Entertainment Centre and Convention Centre Boards

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Tourism, a question about the Convention Centre and Entertainment Centre new board arrangements.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: As members would be well aware, we have just gone through the estimates period in the House of Assembly. Unfortunately, during the estimates examination of the tourism budget papers, minister Bignell took up some 64 per cent of the allotted time answering Dorothy Dixers—some 5,200 words out of the 8,300 words that were uttered during that period of time—so I could not get this question asked. I think it is a very important one. The government announced, when it was abolishing all the boards and committees, that it would be abolishing the Entertainment Centre board and the Convention Centre board. My questions to the minister are:

1. Is this still the government's intention?

2. If so, when will they announce the new board arrangements?

3. What will be the fate of the two very good chief executives, Mr Anthony Kirchner, at the Entertainment Centre, and Mr Alec Gilbert, at the Convention Centre?

4. What will be the composition of the new board in terms of the number of members and their fields of expertise?

5. What will be the new board members' actual sitting fees?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for his five questions to the Minister for Tourism in the other place on the new board arrangements for the Convention Centre and the Entertainment Centre. I undertake to take those questions to the minister and to seek a response on his behalf.