Australian Masters Games

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment about the Australian Masters Games.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: In nine days' time, about 8,000 competitors will descend on Adelaide for the 17^th biennial Australian Masters Games. This event has been to Adelaide five times in the last 14 years, more than any other city. Importantly, most of these competitors will come from interstate or overseas and many will bring partners and families with them. Collectively, they will pour millions of dollars into the South Australian economy, particularly the hospitality industry. Many visitors will stay for the duration of the nine days of competition and beyond.

Australian Masters Games sports venues are spread throughout the metropolitan area and most are accessible by public transport, which is important for visitors who arrive by plane or who choose not to rent a car whilst in Adelaide, which is most of them. Visitors who hold interstate seniors cards will be eligible to apply for free off-peak public transport, but a majority of the 8,000 competitors will be aged between 30 and 65 and they won't be entitled to any concession if they use public transport.

My question of the minister is: given the arrangements in other sports, such as football and cricket, for spectators to get free public transport to venues, will the government consider a similar scheme for visiting participants in events such as the Australian Masters Games to also receive free public transport to venues, if not this year then for future events? By way of disclosure, lest people think this is a self-interested question, I acknowledge that I am registered to compete in the eight-kilometre cross-country and the 10-kilometre trail running, but I am happy to pay for my own bus tickets.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his ongoing interest, particularly, in the Masters Games. The Masters Games, as the honourable member said in his question—it's the fifth time it's been here. It is a particularly wonderful event that we bid to host. The arrangements—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you are annoying me as well. I would like to hear the minister's answer. It's an important question.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I'd like to give the answer, Mr President. As part of the process to bid for these particular events, a whole range of offers are made for the Masters Games to come here. The bidding process was well before this last election, so I am not familiar with all of the opportunities that were offered to the Masters Games organisers—whether free public transport for their competitors was a prerequisite that was denied or something that they didn't ask for.

Clearly, as the honourable member said, we have 9,000 competitors with all of their friends and families coming in. I suspect they are really excited that they are coming to look at South Australia now that 'old mate' is explaining to everybody how wonderful this great state is, of course off the back of the winter campaign. On behalf of the member, I will ask the Tourism Commission if public transport or free public transport or concessions for public transport have ever been part of a requirement to host the Masters Games.