Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Adelaide Fashion Festival Adelaide Fashion Festival The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD Legislative Council Adelaide Fashion Festival The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the minister please inform members of the exciting developments for the Adelaide Fashion Festival this year and how it is promoting Adelaide's incredibly creative talent on the global stage? Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Show some courtesy to the Hon. Mr Hood. The Hon. Mr Hood, I did not hear that question. I would like you to ask it again. The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD Legislative Council The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Certainly, sir. Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Are you finished, Leader of the Opposition? I didn't hear this question the first time. I would like to hear the question in silence because the Hon. Mr Ridgway couldn't have heard it either. The Hon. Mr Hood. The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD Legislative Council The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the minister please inform members of the exciting developments for the Adelaide Fashion Festival this year and how it is promoting Adelaide's incredible creative talent on the global stage? The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway. The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Minister for Trade The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:01): Thank you, Mr President. The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink Legislative Council The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Who are you wearing? The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: All I can say I am wearing is R.M. Williams today. I thank the honourable member for his longstanding and ongoing interest in the Adelaide fashion scene. I have just had the pleasure to be down at the Torrens Parade Ground witnessing the set-up for tonight's Adelaide Fashion Festival opening night runway. The Adelaide Fashion Festival is a true representation of art, culture and lifestyle in a progressive and energetic program. There will be 10 runways starring more than 40 South Australian designers—the most ever—and 20 events in total over the coming five days. The festival brings together media, buyers from the major department stores and retailers and provides leadership throughout the years in terms of business planning, marketing and more. The AFF, as they call it, has supported the growth of the local fashion industry. In the past 12 months, we have seen the number of stockists, the number of staff and the number of social media followers of our local designers grow by more than 20 per cent. On top of this great work with industry, the festival is an important part of our city's year-round events calendar. It brings Adelaide to life with vibrant colour, design, creativity and music. In 2017, the Adelaide Fashion Festival welcomed some 390,000 attendees across the runway shows, fashion events, the Vogue Festival retail activation and the Paolo Sebastian exhibition at the Art Gallery. I am told by the festival director that ticket sales are up on last year, so I am sure that members will be very keen to hear me update the chamber at some point in the future when we have those final figures. This year, we have industry leaders from around the world attending the AFF, including Vogue China editor Angelica Cheung, Vogue Australia fashion director Christine Centenera—who was born in Adelaide and has flown in directly from New York to be here—and celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson. It all starts tonight with the spectacular showcase of the former Young Australian of the Year, Paul Vasileff, the designer of Paolo Sebastian. His showcase of The Nutcracker collection, with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, will get this festival off with a bang. I have just seen the ASO warming up and have had a sneak peek at Paul's incredible collection. I encourage you all, if you get a chance to get to the AFF White Marquee Grounds, to experience a runway or one of the many fashionable events across the coming days.