Adelaide Casino

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:59): My question as to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Could the minister update the chamber about the exciting work which officially begins at the Adelaide Casino today? What will it mean for South Australian companies' employment levels both now and into the future?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for his ongoing interest in this strong, robust economy in South Australia. I was very fortunate last week to have a tour of the Casino with Mr Luke Walker, the general manager, because as the Minister for Tourism I wanted to get a handle on exactly what the expansion means and exactly what is going on. Of course, as the honourable member mentioned, today was the official start day for Hansen Yuncken.

In the first few weeks, we will see the establishment of site huts and security, but I think what is important is the tower crane. I think it will be erected around 16 or 17 June. I think that is when we will see visually some activity on that site. It will be the first of, I think, two big cranes that the public will see that identify that this project has commenced.

It is a 27-month build. Completion is set for September 2020, with an opening, I think, in October 2020, which will be just in time for two T20 World Cup cricket games in Adelaide. That will be unique timing to be able to showcase it to the world. It is a $330 million expansion, as members would be aware.

Some of the important facts include that it will be Adelaide's most luxurious hotel, with 123 suites, three new bars, three additional signature restaurants, function facilities and a wellness centre. It will provide a significant tourism boost for South Australia by attracting even more interstate and international visitors. It is also another of the final pieces of the Riverbank, if you like, jigsaw puzzle that will go up. There is only one other building that is still perhaps to be done after that.

During the redevelopment, there will be 1,000 jobs in construction, and an additional 800 jobs on completion, taking the total number of employees to some 2,000. South Australian companies are the big winners, with 95 per cent of the work to be undertaken by highly skilled local companies with Hansen Yuncken to construct a fit-out of the 10-level development. That's another sign of business confidence: not only the Casino but the construction industry will have an opportunity to benefit from this, as well as hospitality, tourism and other businesses that will feed from it.

Other approvals are in the works. I think there is about a $25 million refurbishment of the existing building, from the North Terrace facade through the ground level and first level. The other one that I think is quite exciting is I think they are going to spend about $6 million to transform the old Governor's ballroom, which is a site that hasn't been used for the 30 years that the Adelaide Railway Station has been a Casino. I think it was built in the 1930s. I was fortunate enough to have a quick peek in there. It looks not dissimilar to this, given that this chamber was built in about 1939. It is roughly the same time. It will be lovely when that is restored and refurbished and opened up. I think they are planning to turn that into some type of world-class premium sports bar and dining activities.

The economic investment and jobs growth that delivers is a priority for this government. The state Liberal government is committed to ensuring that the Adelaide Riverbank Precinct is a hub of vibrancy and becomes a powerful drawcard for local, interstate and overseas visitors. It is of some interest to note that it was the former premier, the Hon. John Olsen, who started talking about the Riverbank and started the process more than 15 or 16 years ago.

Members opposite will say, 'You are just claiming credit for something that started under the former government.' It actually started under the Olsen government, when the Hon. Rob Lucas was treasurer. When the Hon. Mike Rann assumed office, he canned it all and didn't do anything for a number of years. I am pre-empting the interjections or the questions from the other side: 'Aren't you just taking credit for what we were doing?' This is something that has spanned several governments, and I guess you could say it has bipartisan support. It is wonderful to see the Riverbank being activated and I look forward to the Casino completing their renovations and expansion.