Tourism Awards

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:21): As the minister I am sure is aware, this year there was a region which has been hardest hit recently by the significant drop in national survey data indicating that we have had revenue decline by over $70 million in daytrip visitors. I am just wondering if the minister can name this region, which has recently won a significant award, what the nature of that award was for the region and also if he is going to be indicating any funding to that region for better performance to promote what it won.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:21): There's a range of regions across South Australia that have had some fluctuations. The most recent award that was won was by the Yorke Peninsula tourism group. I was at the national awards when they won the award.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: No, you're wrong.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Well, I don't know whether the Hon. Mr Hanson was at the awards, Mr President, but I was there.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: The world's best wine region. Do you know about that one? World's best wine.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Mr President, we are talking about regions that have won some awards. We are continually marketing—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The honourable member opposite might spend his time drinking in the wine region.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: Barossa won the world's best wine. You don't know about it?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hanson, please don't interject in your own question.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: We will continue to promote South Australia. The Tourism Commission will be funded to do that, and we continue to promote South Australia in the way that we get advice from the Tourism Commission, in the best possible way. That's why we focused on the regional campaign.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: The Kellermeister Wild Witch Shiraz has won the world's best wine.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: If he is talking about the Barossa, I expect you will see some focus on the Barossa in the second or third month of the winter campaign. The Barossa just recently won an award for the Wild Witch—

An honourable member: Wicked witch.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The wicked witch shiraz.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: Wild Witch. You don't even know what it's called.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: We do now, and I thank the honourable member for mentioning it. It's a good promotion for the winery, for Kellermeister. They are doing a great job. They are one of many wineries in the Barossa Valley that produce world-class wine and elevate us. It's the single biggest sector that we have, something that we should be very proud of.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: When did they win it?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Just a few days ago.

The PRESIDENT: The time for questions without notice has well and truly expired.