VALO Adelaide 500

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:36): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the Premier, about the supercar motor race.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: When I visited the well-attended and well-received VALO 500 motor race at Victoria Park last November, I was astonished to see several helipads—I counted at least four—in a confined area at the Halifax Street entrance for several helicopters, which were providing joy rides over the course of the four-day event. I did have some concern at the time about the safety, with the number that were frequently coming and going, and the noise level for residents in nearby East Terrace and Halifax Street. My questions to the government are:

1. Did the Motorsport Board or organisers receive any reports from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about the helicopter flights?

2. Were there complaints from residents about the additional noise levels from the motor race and the frequency of the helicopters?

3. Considering the tragedy involving two helicopters which collided on the Gold Coast in January, will the government, through SafeWork SA, undertake a review of the use of helicopters for the purpose of joy rides at this year's event?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:38): I thank the honourable member very much for his question. In relation to the involvement of the Motorsport Board in the authorisation or the organising: I will be happy to refer those questions on to the minister in another place who is responsible for the Adelaide 500.

In relation to the honourable member's question about SafeWork: that is an agency that reports to me. I am not aware that a concern has been raised, but I am happy to follow up and if there has been a concern raised that has been brought to the attention of SafeWork, I certainly will bring that back for the honourable member.

I might just say, too, I am pleased that the honourable member enjoyed the event. It is probably—and I think a number of my colleagues have found the same thing—almost the single most commented upon thing that I get from people, often when I meet them for the first time, who are commenting on what the new Labor government has done. It certainly is something that, in my experience, has been wildly appreciated by the public of South Australia, by many businesses and by people who enjoy the race.