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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-08 Daily Xml
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KANGAROO ISLAND FUTURE AUTHORITY

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (15:29): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Will the Deputy Premier inform the house about the first meeting of the Kangaroo Island Future Authority Advisory Board and its priorities for building the Island's economy?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:29): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yes, I am delighted to inform the house today that the advisory board for the Kangaroo Island Future Authority met for the first time on Thursday 3 November. The board is led by Mr Raymond Spencer, who is the Chair of the Economic Development Board, and it reports to me as Deputy Premier. Its members also include Jayne Bates, who is the Mayor of Kangaroo Island; Craig Wickham, who is the co-owner of a tour company, Exceptional Kangaroo Island; Justin Harman, who is a Food Industry Development Officer for Good Food Kangaroo Island; and Jane Jeffries, who is the Chair of both the SA Tourism Commission and the Adelaide Convention Centre Corporation Board.

Importantly, the board will be advised by the heads of four government departments covering all the areas of crucial importance to the island's future. Three of these departments are newly formed and represent a logical bringing together of agencies to help improve coordination of government service provision to the island. The board is advised by the chief executive of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and the chief executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the board also deciding to bring in, as advisers, representatives of the departments of manufacturing, innovation, trade, resources and energy and primary industries and regions, which of course now includes tourism.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The authority was announced at the government's community cabinet meeting in July. The authority will build on the work of the Economic Development Board and its report, handed down in June this year, on future strategies and directions for the social and economic development of the island. The authority's key aims are to drive infrastructure development on the island, build the island's economy, and better coordinate state government service delivery. I am happy to report that last week's inaugural meeting represented a very successful and enthusiastic beginning.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left, if you want to discuss things can you go outside.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Dear me.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! If members wish to discuss things, would they please go outside the chamber. We are trying to hear the Deputy Premier's answer.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The board decided that the authority's initial priorities would be: firstly, enhancing the Kangaroo Island food brand; secondly, developing experience-based tourism opportunities; thirdly, a renewed approach to ensuring the island's power supply—and I hope the member for Finniss is happy about that—and fourthly, a review—

Mr Pengilly: What about doing something about the cost of getting back and forward across the water, John?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —of the island's planning policies. This is not an exhaustive list but represents the first of many steps to be taken by the authority to develop the island, including finding solutions to long-term issues.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am very pleased with the unprecedented multi-agency support for this initiative and the skills brought to the task by the new board and its members. Kangaroo Island has always been one of South Australia's gems, and the work of the authority will help the island to reach its enormous potential.

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