Overland Train Service

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:29): A supplementary: first of all, to reiterate, the question that the minister did not answer was how many job losses will occur as a result of withdrawal of this funding and has the minister sought or received any advice at all from his agency about the impact on South Australia's tourism industry as a result of the Marshall Liberal government's decision to cut funding to the Overland train service?

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I am going to allow it. It's not really a supplementary but I will allow you to answer the question because you went into flower movement.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:29): I have some other fabulous stories about the Overland, if you would like, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: Don't try the patience of the President.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In relation to job numbers, I am uncertain of the number of jobs that will go, because we are not certain whether the service may still be maintained across the border by the Victorian government. It may not be stopping in Bordertown and Murray Bridge. The railway station at Bordertown is a home for about 50,000 pigeons but no actual employees, so there are no jobs that will be lost in Bordertown.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The pigeons might be upset, although they get disturbed when the train goes through, and I expect the Murray Bridge railway station is similar. I don't see any potential job losses until we know what the Victorian Labor government, friends and colleagues of the people opposite, will do.

When it comes to advice from my agency, the South Australian Tourism Commission, I don't think I have received any formal advice, but we have discussed it in recent times and it will have a very minimal impact on tourism in regional South Australia. There are only a handful of people who get on and off the train in Bordertown and Murray Bridge and there are a number of other travel options.

As members would be aware, I am sure, Great Southern Rail and the Journey Beyond group announced the Adelaide to Brisbane route that comes back via Melbourne, a luxury train journey that comes back via the Great Ocean Road—not the road but the railway line, obviously, adjacent to it. I know the way it gets back to Adelaide is along that particular rail corridor. So if there is an iconic tourism destination that warrants the train stopping, like it does at Katherine Gorge or Coober Pedy—I know the Hon. Mr Hanson asked about GlobeLink. Great Southern Rail see that as a positive because it will actually take the train past the Barossa Valley.

I know there are some exciting developments in the wings for the Monarto Zoo. I expect, if those plans came to fruition, that would be an iconic sort of destination that Great Southern Rail might include on their Adelaide to Brisbane return journey. I don't think this is all doom and gloom; it's another phase in the life of this particular railway line. I don't know the exact number of jobs that will be lost. I would be surprised if there were many jobs, if any, lost at all, and there could well be some opportunities.