Cruise Ship Strategy

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:42): Further supplementary, and it might be easier to phrase it like this: is it the case that every single one of those visits was locked in prior to March last year and you have had nothing to do with the record numbers we have seen this year, and that, in fact, they go up every year?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:42): What I have had a lot to do with—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I will seek some advice. But what I have had a lot to do with—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Let the minister answer.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: —is the incredibly high morale at the SATC. They have actually got a minister who cares, a minister who goes to things and enjoys his portfolio. We have a great team there. I can't believe the members opposite can't recognise that the great team at the SATC continues to deliver for the South Australian economy, and all they want to do is ridicule them and laugh at them. It's a disgrace. Those people—in such things like the cruise ships and the Tour Down Under—work extremely long hours and weekends. There have been volunteers and people working in that sector for over 20 years, and the members opposite just laugh and ridicule. They are a joke and that is why they are on the other side of the chamber.