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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-14 Daily Xml
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TIGER AIRWAYS

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (15:44): I note the member for Mawson's comments with interest. Perhaps we could have some superior wine tastings in the house courtesy of the member for Schubert. I turn to a subject which was raised in question time today and, of course, was an item of some interest yesterday, with the announcement of Tiger Airways coming to South Australia. I am most pleased that this has happened. I have been pushing for this for months. I was greatly disappointed that we did not get Tiger based in Adelaide. However, the fact of the matter is that it will be coming into Adelaide, offering very cheap fares.

The point I picked up today from the Treasurer was that you have got to have three. My concern is that the last thing we need in Australia is another airline failure, and I am not trying to promote that all. However, unfortunately, I have seen it far too often, where airlines have failed, whether they be airlines like Compass or, indeed, airlines that have flown between the mainland and regional parts of South Australia, on the West Coast, Kangaroo Island and other places. So, while I am very happy that Tiger is coming in and I am very pleased that it is going to bring far more people into South Australia, that it will be able to come here and enjoy what we have—

Mr Kenyon interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: I don't think any airlines fly into Newland. So, that is a good news story and may Tiger Airways be most successful. Last Friday I attended the launch of the Clipsal for next year: a brilliant day with thousands of people in attendance. The Treasurer was there, the Hon. Terry Stephens from another place and myself. It was disappointing that there were not some other members and ministers there. It was a rather big event (to say the least) at the Entertainment Centre. It was free to the public, there were drivers on display, they announced the program for next February and, of course, now you can buy your tickets.

I am a self-confessed petrolhead—nothing gives me greater pleasure than to watch fast cars or, indeed, to drive fast cars. The Clipsal next year is going to be a wonderful event. The announcement about the extended sail to be erected over the grandstand is terrific for two reasons: it will keep people more comfortable and it will also deflect rays from the sun and protect from skin cancer. So, we look forward to that.

Yesterday morning—getting closer to my electorate—I attended a breakfast down at Moana for the Fleurieu tourism organisation, with a promotion by its marketing manager, Roz Becker, on the new Fleurieu branding. I urge all members—and they can take this home to their electorates—to come to the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island in my electorate of Finniss. The Fleurieu branding exercise was most successful. It really put a focus on the Fleurieu. There is a wealth of experience as far as tourism is concerned across the Fleurieu at all times, extending up to Langhorne Creek, which is in the member for Hammond's electorate, across to Moana and down south, and of course it extends across to the Murray and the Lakes.

The Fleurieu is a wonderful place to visit. I place on the record the fact that despite the state of the River Murray and the flows and everything else, it is still a wonderful experience to travel the Murray. It is still a wonderful time to come down to Goolwa. Everything is there. The people are all there. Everything is open for business, and you can come down there and know that you are going to have a good day. I urge you all to come down and visit the Western Fleurieu, the Eastern Fleurieu, the Hills and the wine area, to taste the food and enjoy yourselves.

Finally, one thing that does concern me is that we are still plumping to put everything on in March. Everything in South Australia happens in March. We have months called September, October and November. You did not have to watch the grand final, you did not have to go to that, but that is another story. October, November and early December are still times when we should be having events in South Australia. I find it ludicrous that we cram everything into four or five weeks, wear everybody out, probably run everybody's credit card up, and just push everyone to the limit, when we should be having some of these events before Christmas in October and November. It makes sense to me and I think we should be doing that.

Time expired.

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