Barossa Contemporary Festival

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question regarding the Barossa region.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE:The Advertiser reported on 21 May that the funding for the Barossa Contemporary Festival was axed by the Labor government just one year into its three-year contract and that funding, worth around seven figures, has been cut off effective immediately. The festival was a key plank of the SA Tourism Commission's Bloom events campaign and was designed to promote the Barossa region's food, wine and art with live performances, dining experiences and art installations across the towns of Seppeltsfield, Angaston, Nuriootpa and Tanunda. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister been consulted by the Minister for Tourism that this regional event would be axed?

2. Has the Minister for Regional Development advocated for the reinstatement of the funding for this event, which was designed to promote visitation to the Barossa region?

3. How many other regional events will be terminated by the Labor government?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, I visited the Barossa very recently in one of my visits to regions, something that I think is incredibly important to do, as has been alluded to before. Unfortunately, the former Minister for Regional Development didn't seem to like being in the regions very much, but I'm very pleased to be able to address that and the Barossa was one of the early visits that I made following my visit to the Riverland, of course.

In terms of the specifics that the member refers to, I'm sure any decisions around continuing events would be based on a sound analysis of the success or otherwise of those events: whether they brought economic activity, what the attendances were and so on. I am happy to refer her question to the minister in the other place and bring back further information, if that is available, and share that with the chamber.