Trade, Tourism and Investment Department

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:28): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Have any staff lost their jobs as a result of the transition to the new Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment and, if so, how many?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:28): I thank the honourable member for her question. As of 1 July, the new Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment was formed. I had the pleasure this morning of having a meeting with a gathering of that department. Not all of the staff were there, but well over 150 people were in the room. It was good because, of course, it's a new beginning with a new minister and a new approach to the outward looking agencies for selling, marketing and growing our state's economy, which is the job that the Premier has asked me to do.

The new chief executive of Trade and Investment, Mr Mike Hnyda, the former head of Investment Attraction, explained that he was putting together an implementation task force. I think he is hoping to complete that today. I don't have any further information for the member. We are still going through the whole range of reorganisation of the department and we expect to be on the ground, growing our economy, getting more tourists, selling more products and making South Australia a better place to live as of today.