Minister for Trade and Investment

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:26): I was deferring to our President, in the way that I trust those members opposite will also do. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the minister for trade, tourism and investment—sorry, the Minister for Trade and Investment—regarding his responsibilities as a minister.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN:The Advertiser reported in January 2020 that the minister said:

The road to recovery will be a team effort and tourism will be one of the key economic drivers in this process, which is why I support the Premier's decision to take on the tourism portfolio at this critical time.

My question to the minister is: why does he believe the Premier is better placed to do what was his job?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade and Investment) (14:27): I find it interesting, after yesterday's motion on the bushfires where there was a lot of concern and remorse. I will remind people that three South Australians lost their lives, four were badly injured, 188 homes were destroyed and people, as my colleague the Hon. Rob Lucas mentioned, lost all of their lifelong memories in those homes. Some 33 homes had major damage, some 824 buildings were destroyed, some 584 motor vehicles were destroyed, more than a quarter of a million hectares were burnt and more than 100,000 livestock perished, let alone all the other damage to private property, fences and other things.

It is a particularly tough time for South Australia. The Premier is going to lead the recovery. He wants to do it in his role as the Minister for Tourism, and I fully support it. I cannot believe that the members opposite, in the light of three people losing their lives and all that pain and suffering in the community, would like to make some political point and try to score political points. I fully support the Premier.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, listen in silence, please.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: Has the minister finished?

The PRESIDENT: I believe so.