Overland Train Service

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:33): Further supplementary: given the impact that this is going to have on Great Southern Rail's operations, will the minister guarantee that the Great Southern Rail head office will continue to remain in Adelaide?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:33): That would be a matter for Great Southern Rail, and I am in regular contact with them. As you heard only last week, they announced this next luxury train trip from Adelaide to Brisbane, back via Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. They are expanding their luxury services, like the Ghan and the Indian Pacific.

If you look at the map, Adelaide is sort of in the middle, if you have a look at where it fits in Australia. It is actually not a bad place to have a head office, and it's a great place to do business, as we have seen. Since the election, business confidence has boomed in South Australia, so I would expect that companies like Great Southern Rail—while I know they are disappointed that we have made this decision, their head office is here. Retention rates for head office staff are greater in South Australia than any other capital city because people love working here, they love living in South Australia and they love the fact that they have a government that is pro business.

The PRESIDENT: One more—the last—