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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-07 Daily Xml
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Motions

World Tourism Day

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (10:49): I move:

That this house—

(a) notes that tourism is a key driver of the South Australian economy, directly employing 36,700 South Australians;

(b) highlights the vibrancy of South Australia's tourism offerings, particularly in regional South Australia; and

(c) notes the Liberal government’s commitment to growing the state’s tourism sector, particularly through attracting more major events through the events bid fund.

I rise today to mark World Tourism Day. I choose to do so because of the vital role tourism plays in the local economy, particularly in the Narungga electorate, and the significant dollar contribution that the sector makes to this state. Current tourism expenditure on Yorke Peninsula is $198 million, with the aim to grow that to $302 million by 2020. We are on track, and that is the good news.

I am particularly pleased that the latest International Visitor Survey results announced last week show that South Australia has grown its international visits by 7 per cent and its expenditure by 8 per cent, both outstripping the national averages. That means that SA's international visitor spend is now worth $1.15 billion and that, in the last 12 months, a reported 464,000 people from overseas visited our beautiful state. These people are predominantly from the UK, USA, China and New Zealand.

There was more significant news a couple of weeks ago when it was announced that Yorke Peninsula will next year have cruise ships visit its shores. After years of advocacy from the Yorke Peninsula Tourism marketing board and its partners, the Copper Coast Council, Yorke Peninsula Council, Barunga West Council and the SA Tourism Commission, this dream is finally becoming a reality.

The first ships into Wallaroo, to arrive this time next year, are to be part of the Cruise and Maritime Voyages' 2019-20 itinerary. With an estimated 1,200 passengers on each ship, this great tourism news has naturally been greeted with excitement by the community, local businesses, the Copper Coast Council and stakeholders. Indeed, the projected boost in tourism visitation and spend should bring significant economic outcomes for the region, and planning has already commenced to ensure maximum benefits are derived from this valuable new opportunity.

The challenge is now to ensure that Wallaroo port is ready to receive so many people in one hit. Having met with council and the YP Tourism marketing committee, as well as reps from the Wallaroo Community Development Association, infrastructure needs have been flagged with me, among them increased public amenities and parking areas for the additional expected tourism buses, etc., about which I have recently corresponded with ministers Knoll and Ridgway.

Commendably, the Copper Coast Council recently completed a major Wallaroo main street redevelopment project, which no doubt improved the region's chances of being selected as a cruise ship destination. In September, I was also pleased to be invited to officially open the 31st Friends of Parks forum at Innes National Park, which was a valued opportunity to praise the indispensable role volunteers play across our visitor information centres in attracting and retaining tourists to our region. I was also able to thank the members of friends groups around the state for all they do to protect and promote our nature-based tourism.

Innes is the renowned jewel in our crown. The increasing value of the relatively new International Bird Sanctuary was also highlighted for its uniqueness and its exciting future. Plans are well underway for the 2019 Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival held in Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta, held every two years, which continues to draw crowds of around 30,000 people. Next year, there will also be another Yorke Peninsula Field Days event at Paskeville, which draws similar crowds. There is much to be proud of within the Narungga electorate.

I would like to take this opportunity to note the contribution of Elaine Bussenschutt OAM in her role as the executive officer of field days, having noted that she announced that she will be stepping away from that role shortly. It reminds me of the wonderful progress the field days have made under her guardianship. Congratulations and thank you for everything you have done, Elaine.

The Moonta Mines heritage area is now recognised with national heritage listing, and it is also on the cusp of greatness. I am aware that community members, with National Trust and council, are working hard to develop a business plan for future exposure for this local treasure, which is already renowned intrastate, interstate and overseas. All three tiers of government are working together to realise the huge potential our electorate has for significant tourism growth and development.

So much has been achieved in recent years, with the award-winning Walk the Yorke trail that follows the whole leg; the SA Tourism Commission's Coastal Way touring route; the developing Rewilding Yorke Peninsula project at Innes; rebranding initiatives, which in the last couple of years included publication of the local produce guide; new tourism operators; and many infrastructure improvements being made to caravan parks.

Statistics tell us that visitation to Yorke Peninsula is rising. Day trips, nights stayed, money spent are all up, and new businesses are arriving to meet the demand. As part of this government's reinvigorating regional tourism plan, a tender process is underway for a boost in ecotourism opportunities within Innes, which will see additional accommodation options for visitors to our wonderful natural park. This policy acts on research that shows we are not making the most of our environmental assets to help create jobs in our regions and, as such, has my full and unequivocal support.

Already Innes has capacity for 700 people to camp overnight. The message is that, if we can entice visitors to stay longer, there will be positive economic benefit for not only accommodation providers but also other tourism spin-off businesses. This year tourism to Innes is up 50 per cent on last year, and already statewide nature-based tourism is worth $1.3 billion in tourism visitation value, so I believe that any investment into our tourism sector is money well spent.

It is a priority for me to work with many organisations and all tiers of government to ensure our tourism potential as a region is achieved whilst protecting the unique environment we have in Narungga. Back in June, I was pleased in this place to recognise the efforts of so many in my community who are working every day to grow the value of tourism in our region by sharing the results and highlights of the Yorke Peninsula Tourism Awards Gala Dinner, pleasingly attended by both the Minister for Tourism, the Hon. David Ridgway in the other place, and the Minister for Environment and Water, the Hon. David Speirs. Their attendance provided them with not only an insight into our local tourist attractions but also an opportunity the next day to see more of our wonderful sites.

I add here that Yorke Peninsula Tourism marketing manager, Brooke Liebelt, and tourism coordinator, Nicole Page, supported by the Copper Coast Council, Yorke Peninsula Council, Barunga West Council and SA Tourism, play a vital role in ensuring our unique assets are heard about around the state, around the nation and around the world. I would like to give particular thanks to Brooke Liebelt for the tireless work she does in promoting the wonderful local tourism operators that we have on YP. There is an increasing number of them and they offer great services. It is an industry we would do well to watch and continue to encourage to prosper into the future.

Importantly, they also support the work of our local operators who have invested in the sector and are working together to grow the benefits for all. I am aware that many of the YP winners and medallists on the night have now entered the state tourism awards to be presented this Friday night, 9 November. There was a record number of Hall of Fame inductees at the Yorke region awards this year, which is further testimony to the commitment to the industry by local operators.

The winners list at the local awards included the Splash Town water park at Moonta Bay; Kernewek Lowender; Stansbury Seaside Markets; the Yorke Peninsula's Saltwater Classic; the Moonta Mines Railway; the Ballara Art and Lifestyle Retreat; Barley Stacks Wines; YP Council bush camping; Reef Encounters Fishing Charters; Coopers Alehouse at Wallaroo; the Wallaroo Marina Apartments; Redwing Farmstay; and the Port Vincent Foreshore, Marion Bay, Point Turton, Broughton Bayside, Wallaroo and Ardrossan caravan parks.

I list them to show the diversity of experiences on offer and the diversity of operators who believe in the value of offering superior customer service so that all visitors, having had an enjoyable experience in our patch, go home and spread, by word of mouth, their positive feedback and return for another stay, bringing with them their valuable tourist dollars.

The recently announced $88.5 million Port Wakefield overpass and lane duplication project is expected to make an immense difference to our tourism industry. This investment will improve traffic flows, benefit local businesses, save lives and also boost tourism visitation and spend. I firmly believe that the issue of traffic congestion was so significant that holiday-makers visiting Yorke Peninsula were shortening their stay or, worse, deciding not to come because of the dreaded extra hours spent stuck in traffic either on the way to their destination or on the way home.

I also mention the continued investment in projects such as the Windara Reef shellfish restoration project, south of Ardrossan in Gulf St Vincent, the recently started second phase in building on the 1,200 square metres of reef already constructed across an area of four hectares, adding 11,000 square metres of reef to just over 16 hectares. Soon 10,000 tonnes of locally sourced limestone will go on the sea floor as a reef base, and seven million juvenile Australian flat oysters will be laid atop, all designed to support the regional economy through job creation and tourism via the increase in recreational fishing that is expected to be derived as a result of this world-class reef.

I also recognise the need for infrastructure to keep pace with the tourism growth we are experiencing, whether that be for our roads; our mobile Black Spot program; to improve power supply; to ensure health services, sea rescue patrols and emergency services can all cope with the influx of visitors; to offer small business support; for coastal protection, grants for projects and support for beautifying programs; to waive oyster industry fees whilst oyster growers rebuild following the impact of the POMS outbreak; to work with commercial and recreational fishers; to help to maintain boat ramps; to see ways to support the new bird sanctuary with improvements to access roads at Thompson Beach; or to advocate for needed infrastructure at the pink Lake Bumbunga near Lochiel that is drawing bus and car loads of tourists daily.

There is much to be done. The state Liberal government recognises that South Australia's regions are crucial for the future prosperity of our state, and growing tourism in our region is a big part of that. On that note, I pledge to do all I can as the member for Narungga to ensure appropriate investment is made so that the true potential of the tourism industry can come to fruition for South Australia, as a state, to enjoy. There are great times ahead for our tourism sector statewide, but particularly so in the seat of Narungga. I look forward to continuing to advocate for increased investment to ensure the sector continues to grow and prosper. I commend the motion to the house.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay) (11:01): I propose an amendment to the motion, as follows:

That this house—

(a) notes that tourism is a key driver of the South Australian economy, directly employing 36,700 South Australians;

(b) highlights the vibrancy of South Australia's tourism offerings, particularly in regional South Australia; and

(c) condemns the Liberal government's $11 million cut to the South Australian Tourism Commission budget.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right, please. Member for Ramsay.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I thank the member for Narungga for bringing this motion to the house. I thank him for his enthusiasm for the area that he represents, and it was great to hear him articulate the different areas of growth that we are seeing in the area with the diversity of tourism options. It is very exciting that the first cruise ship stop will be in Wallaroo; that is fantastic. But the reality is that, as I have addressed with my amendment, we have had an $11 million cut to the SA Tourism Commission budget.

Tourism is indeed a key driver of the SA economy. We have witnessed, over the last five years with significant investment from the former government, incredible growth in this sector of our economy. Great events, increased direct flights, additional hotel rooms, regional airport upgrades and an additional marketing budget are the reasons behind the growth in tourism and the increased employment in this sector. I also want to continue to pay tribute to our former minister for tourism, Leon Bignell, who was very driven to support—

The SPEAKER: Member for Mawson.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: —this part of his portfolio. South Australia offers world-class attractions, quality wine and food, and the accessibility of our tourism offerings are these things from Adelaide—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: —which enable us to play to our strengths when we market our state nationally and internationally. When we look at the results in regional tourism, it is very exciting. Even though only 23 per cent of South Australians live in regional areas, the regional areas account for 40 per cent of the state's total visitor spend. We talk about our visitor economy, not just about tourists. It is about the amount of spend they do when they visit here. What I love about tourism is the whole-of-state investment. It is a whole-of-state driver of our economy.

This growth did not happen by accident. It was because of the hard work of our local tourism operators, who take the risk of starting a business, who work the long hours and put their own finances on the line. It is because of those people who work in the industry, who often work unusual hours but who are passionate and dedicated to their work.

I would like to recognise the work of the South Australian Tourism Industry Council, working with people to improve capability and capacity, working with people who spend a lot of time in their business and encouraging them to also work on their business, and in particular the Tourism Data Warehouse, making sure that when you log on to southaustralia.com you can see what is happening throughout all of South Australia. Government can play a role by marketing the state to domestic and international markets and investing in appropriate sector infrastructure.

What concerns me—I have mentioned this in the house previously, but it is important to repeat it—is that at a time, in this very competitive environment, when other state and territory jurisdictions are investing more in their tourism budget we are spending $11 million less. The Northern Territory has a turbocharged tourism package of an additional $114 million, Western Australia has announced a $30 million partnership with Perth Airport for more direct flights and Queensland has put another $94.6 million towards its tourism programs. What do we have here in South Australia? We have a cut.

While we are here today with a motion recognising how important regional tourism is, we have a Liberal government that is responsible for cutting funds to marketing, cutting funds to sector development and cutting funds for direct flight assistance. We need to back our tourism operators in the regions. We have had enormous growth, with just last year an increase of 7 per cent in international visitors to our regional areas. They are doing well, but we need to continue to support them.

There is even a plan on the table for the Regional Visitor Strategy, and I encourage all members of this house to become familiar with this plan. It brought together all the people within the 11 different regions to talk about what it is they have, to identify the different areas needing support, and plans for the future. It is a very high-quality document that outlines key advantages and challenges but, alas, there is no specific funding for the Regional Visitor Strategy; instead, the tourism budget gets an $11 million cut.

We know what we need to do to continue growth in the regions. We need marketing, we need events, we need to develop the experience someone would have when they come to our South Australian regions. We need to make sure we have visitor infrastructure. Most importantly, we need to put the consumer at the core, and that consumer does not see local government boundaries. They do not see borders; they just want to have the experience of going to the area.

What I think is exciting is that as we look towards our plan for 2030—the South Australian Tourism Plan—I encourage members in the house who are in regional areas to be active in their response to this because the regions are critical to the success of South Australian tourism. I reiterate that there are 13,000 direct jobs in tourism and regional areas and 6,000 indirect jobs. We have incredible potential to continue to grow this, but if members do not lobby for that support, for the increase, for the money to come back, we are denying ourselves our true potential.

As a look at this chamber, I see that we obviously have high representation across the state because that is what we do here. But what we see here is an industry that can support all of us, so you need to be advocating for your regional area because this is about jobs, about businesses and about growth. I support my amended motion, and I ask that this money be returned to the budget immediately.

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (11:09): I rise to support the original motion. I am very passionate about tourism, which is very important to the seat of Finniss. There are many tourism operators in my region, and there are many exciting things to do in the seat of Finniss. Sadly, many people out there do not think that the area of Victor Harbor through to Goolwa and Port Elliot has what it used to have, that it does not have the spark it used to have. I totally disagree. I think there is enormous potential for the region to continue to be the tourist hub of Adelaide—for people to come down to our region for day trips and for overnight stays and to enjoy the things in the electorate of Finniss.

Among the operators in Finniss that I have enjoyed with my family over many years that continues to operate is one that is very dear to my heart—the SteamRanger Heritage Railway. I certainly can remember, as a child, the original public transport that used to operate on the Victor Harbor line, right through to Adelaide. Sadly, that was lost back in the eighties, but luckily the line has been saved and it has very much operated as a tourist railway since.

We have seen wonderful investment over the years by volunteers in getting some of the rolling stock operational. Sadly, it is a very expensive exercise to get very old engines back up and functioning. It is very easy for things to go wrong in these older engines, and having to have them rebuilt and getting equipment made for them overseas—in the United Kingdom—is often an issue that is faced.

One of the interesting things about SteamRanger is that a couple of years ago one of its engines was actually a character in the Thomas the Tank Engine series. When my children were growing up watching Thomas the Tank Engine, the engine 520, which is the big green engine that is currently out of service, became the character Shane in the series. It is interesting to see that our tourist enterprise here in South Australia has become part of an international television series.

Among other things that I really enjoy, particularly during the winter months, are the whales that appear, mainly around the Basham Beach area in Middleton. My family have watched the whales for years. It certainly has become very much a tourist destination where people go and enjoy watching the whales frolick near the shore over the winter months. This year was an average season: we had a number of whales there, but it was not one of the biggest seasons we have had. It is a great thing to come down and watch the whales enjoying that area.

Another thing that can be done in the sea in the region is the swim with the tuna, which has relocated to Granite Island. I had the privilege of putting on a wetsuit—looking like a whale—back in January last year, just after they moved, and swimming with the tuna. It is an amazing experience to have tuna swim past you as you help feed them pilchards and experience how fast they can move through the water. Another thing on Granite Island that is very special is the horse-drawn tram trip across to the island.

There was also the recent installation of a sculpture park around the island, where there is a trail you can do, looking at different things. Some of it is quite interesting and some of it is a bit out there. The hamburger that sits out on the rocks trying to catch humans is an interesting piece of art. It is certainly not to my liking, but it has been the object of some conversations around the island. It is great to see investment going back on the island to get the restaurant/cafe back up and operational to give visitors something to do, to enjoy a coffee, etc., while they are over there.

Another thing to do on the island is the penguin tour. I highly recommend people do that of an evening. They can walk over there just on dusk, particularly over the summer months, to see, in a very controlled manner, penguins in their native state. The latest penguin count has seen a great improvement in numbers, with an increase from around 20 now up into the 40s again, so that is pleasing to see.

A really enjoyable activity in the region is The Big Duck boat tour, which goes out from Victor Harbor, travels around the back of Granite Island and out to the Waitpinga cliffs to have a look at the other side of the Bluff. These areas are very hard to get to by any other means and are some of the most spectacular natural environments to be seen so close to Adelaide. I really recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity.

The Encounter Bikeway is another really important feature of the region where we have seen huge development over the years. You can now ride from the Bluff right through to Hindmarsh Island, right across the electorate, and it is very enjoyable for families to do. I have done the whole length of the trail over time, apart from the bit over to Hindmarsh Island, and it is very scenic.

We have numerous golf courses in the region. There is the Victor Harbor golf course with an amazing first tee that looks out over the ocean to Granite Island and the Bluff. You do not have to get the ball very airborne to get it down onto the fairway, so it is a great tee to tee off from. There is also the McCracken golf course, the Goolwa golf course, South Lakes and Mount Compass Golf Course.

There are many other things to do, including some good restaurants and food businesses. One of the great ones at Mount Jagged, near Mount Compass, is the Alexandrina Cheese Company. They have done a great job of setting up a factory, and they have a factory-door cafe. It is a great place to stop and have a milkshake if you are travelling past, and it is great to taste their cheese. They do a wonderful job, and I would encourage people to get involved.

There are also many restaurants right across the electorate, ranging from Whalers, up near the Bluff, the Flying Fish at Horseshoe Bay, Middleton, right across to The Landing on Hindmarsh Island, which is part of the Coorong Quays development. They are all great restaurants and cafes that are there to be enjoyed, and there is plenty of time to enjoy them as we head into these warmer months.

There are also many festivals conducted in the area. We recently saw the Rock 'n' Roll Festival in Victor Harbor, and many people came down to the region. Unfortunately, the first day of the festival was one of the coldest spring days we have seen in years. Numbers were certainly down on that day, but numbers bounced back on the Sunday and we saw people enjoy what is on offer in Victor Harbor. The old cars came down and people got up on the dance floor to enjoy the old-style dancing of the rock 'n' roll era.

There are also many other great events coming up as we head into summer, including the art show that is organised by one of the Rotary clubs in Victor Harbor. It occurs early in January and has been running for many years now. They do a great job of promoting the region and the artists, and there are many pieces of art to purchase there.

We have also seen other pop-ups, like The Sailing Club at the Soldiers Memorial Gardens at Victor Harbor. It just pops up for a few days over summer so that people can enjoy sitting there, having a drink and enjoying the lovely lifestyle of the Fleurieu. Tourism is an important part of Finniss and I commend the original motion.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (11:19): I rise to support the motion and thank the member for bringing this important matter to our attention. I note the proposed amendment introduced by the member for Ramsay and indicate that I will not be supporting her amendment.

In contributing to the support of this motion, it is unsurprising to me that a member of the former government would take a narrow perspective in relation to funding the Tourism Commission on the one hand, and try to highlight that, without recognising the very significant contribution, in particular the Major Events Bidding Fund and subsequent major event proposals of the current government. It seems to me to be a rather narrow perspective. But then again, in considering the history of tourism for South Australia's economic and social benefit, I think from both sides of government some contribution in recognising it is important.

Let me say this: an issue came to my attention recently where the member for Mawson made a statement supporting an initiative of the South Australian Tourism Commission in relation to a project on Kangaroo Island. Almost in the same breath the Leader of the Opposition came out and was critical of this important initiative. At the time, did I think to myself, 'This is the first time I have actually agreed with the member for Mawson on something,' or was it some light bulb moment of intellect on his part or was it a bid for the leadership that he was making? I am not sure that he would get anything other than his own vote in that regard; nevertheless, it demonstrated to me the shambles the opposition is in in relation to their genuine contribution to tourism.

If I was to take an example, using Kangaroo Island, the new government introduces a consideration by the Minister for Environment of a project to build and develop a golf course on Kangaroo Island. Within months of coming into office he has done the assessment, he has carefully considered the matter, he has supported the initiative and it is underway and has been welcomed. It sat on for years under the former government—years—and even in the last year of the last dying Labor government, they could not even sort out the water that was going to be need for that project. I commend the new minister in the new government for identifying good projects and getting on with them in this space because we on the side of the house recognise the significance.

What did the last minister for tourism do? His government contributed $9 million for the extension and new build of the Kangaroo Island airport, which is situated near the Cygnet River on Kangaroo Island. Another $9 million came from the federal government—great. What did they do? The then minister for transport just took his hands off it and let the local council manage the development. What happened? It was a $3 million overrun. So their own state money, our taxpayers' money, was put in and there was no management of the project, which frankly is disgraceful. It was a situation where state money was put in, they had an obligation with the federal money to be the administrating body, and they just handed it over to someone else.

Of course, when we come in, we have another mess to clean up. So $1.5 million extra is contributed, I think, under the new minister to try to deal with that, but what are the people of Kangaroo Island left with? They are left with another $1.5 million out of their own ratepaying base to pay this debt over the next 10 years. That is the sort of conduct of the previous administration.

Let's get to the good bit. Sports Illustrated, in a marketing partnership with South Australian Tourism, is partnering for a 2019 swim edition, which will see Kangaroo Island feature as one of the five glamorous destinations worldwide within the 2019 magazine. The member for Mawson publicly came out and agreed that this should be valuable to Kangaroo Island. I thank him for that. It might be the first and last time we ever agree on something, but I do acknowledge it, notwithstanding his leader's more negative input on this.

Let's identify what is happening. Obviously, the high-volume exposure and audience reach for South Australia position Kangaroo Island as a premium travel destination to its 60 million global readers. We would only hope for that, wouldn't we, on our own Facebook pages or whatever? Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has more than eight million followers on social media and has been sharing multiple daily posts on Instagram of the models on Kangaroo Island and tagging local South Australian operators.

Let me remind members that this was an initiative of the South Australian Tourism Commission. It has been keeping an eye on it since 2017 when, through its representation in the US, SATC identified this opportunity. They could not proceed due to scheduling issues, and they reinitiated this in 2018. Good on the SATC for doing this and remaining vigilant in order to take advantage of this opportunity.

The last time Australia was featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit was in 2013, when Hayman Island in Queensland was featured. The partnership is in line with SATC's host media program, which aims to heighten aspiration and consideration of South Australia as a desirable holiday destination. Kangaroo Island already has well over 150,000 visitors to it each year. This is more, I might say, than the Galapagos Islands, which, of course, is another prestigious destination on the tourism circuits. Regarding the high-volume exposure, I would like to advise the house as to the data here.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has 60 million global readers, and 16 million of these are female—the main decision-maker, I might add, in regard to travel. This is more female readers than magazines such as US Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. The Swimsuit website has 14 million unique online visitors, with 288 million page views to swim content. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has more than eight million followers on social media, as I have said. The PR value for the 2018 launch of the swimsuit edition recorded 17 billion global media impressions, 9,000 media report segments and more than 100 media interviews.

In addition to Sports Illustrated branded social media channels, the personal profiles of the models photographed on Kangaroo Island have a collective audience following of more than 6.56 million people. Olivia Culpo, whom I am sure members would know—I think she was Miss Universe 2012; I look to my counterparts here, but I think that is right—obviously has a very significant following. She alone has 3.4 million followers. The results show that she has already had six posts and the highest number of views—140 million—of any one post.

These opportunities do not come very often. I can remember when Elle Macpherson came to Kangaroo Island in the early to mid-1980s for the 1985 Sports Illustrated edition. Her career obviously skyrocketed from there, but I am not saying it is all to do with Kangaroo Island. We would love to have her back. Nevertheless, we are very pleased that these initiatives are picked up and showcase some of the beautiful parts of South Australia. The six high-profile international models were photographed in multiple locations across the island, including Stokes Bay, Emu Bay, Snellings Beach, Pennington Bay, King George Beach and Remarkable Rocks.

The launch is scheduled for May 2019. I urge members to buy a copy. If there was one little tiny blemish, it was that they showcased a rather large snake on one of the models, which I just want to add is not native to Kangaroo Island. We do not have those over there. It is probably prohibited from being taken there because we do not have any rabbits or foxes. There are lots of things we do not let onto Kangaroo Island, but anyway I mention to anyone who might be listening to this internationally that, if they do get to Kangaroo Island, they will not see snakes of that species, but we do have lots of other beautiful things to show them.

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (11:29): I am very pleased to rise in support of this motion by the member for Narungga, which acknowledges the importance of tourism to our economy and to our state broadly. I would also like to note that many of the residents in my seat often visit Narungga on Yorke Peninsula while on holiday, myself included, to visit lovely spots like Corny Point, the Innes National Park, Wallaroo, Moonta and so many others. I am also very pleased to say that it will be a lot easier for us to come and visit the member for Narungga and his residents, given the state government's investment into that awful intersection on the Copper Coast and Augusta highways. I would almost go so far as to say that Narungga is almost as nice as Newland—almost.

I think Newland is one of those really beautiful places where we have the best of both worlds. We have metropolitan Adelaide and everything that has to offer, as well as a slice of regional South Australia, namely, the Adelaide Hills. It is a beautiful mix of the feeling that you are away from town and knowing that you are actually still only about five minutes away from many parts of it, and not more than 20 minutes from the most eastern areas.

Recently, I was very pleased to be able to attend the opening of the new redevelopment at Tea Tree Plaza, a $20 million investment into our local area. This is a beautiful new area comprising a number of eateries, and the cinemas have been done-up there. There is nothing like it, certainly not in our part of Adelaide. In fact, across Adelaide as a whole there really is nothing quite like it. It is really modelled on things that Westfield has done interstate. I think it is really exciting to see that kind of thing happening in our part of the world.

As you head up into the Hills, there are so many beautiful locations and so much great opportunity for tourism. Historically, it has been and still is a major producer of pears. I am told that between 80 and 90 per cent of all of South Australia's pears come from within my electorate in the Hills.

Mr Patterson: The James family.

Dr HARVEY: Yes, that is right, businesses like James Orchards Apples and Pears; Drury Orchards, which has some 100-year-old pear trees; and Chamberlain Orchards. A number of those places are looking to value-add to what they are doing. A classic example of this is the Paracombe Premium Perry business that is associated with Chamberlain Orchards. They are now starting to produce their perries.

On top of that, Damian McArdle, who is the business owner there, has been quite innovative in also creating a real experience for visitors with his Sunday shed door openings, where people come in and taste some of his perry and enjoy a lovely pizza. Certainly, he and many others have a great passion for increasing that kind of activity in the Hills.

There are also a number of beautiful wineries. We have Paracombe Premium Wines, who do a fantastic job producing wines now that are being exported to a number of different places. They also have another option for people to come along and experience what they have to offer. The same applies to Totino Wines, who are also bringing in that extra experience. Lastly, Kersbrook Hill Wines and Cider, located just as you enter Kersbrook, produce some very unique things. They have a lot of through-traffic stopping there.

I would really like to see greater opportunities to allow people to take advantage of some of these nice things that are in the area. I think they are quite unique. They offer a food and drink experience that is not over the top but is something small. I think it is a niche market that would be something that even people from interstate and overseas would enjoy very much. North of there, just a bit further down the hill, is the Gorge Wildlife Park and Cudlee Creek Tavern, which are two great local institutions. People often travel through there and go to see them.

I would like to stress the fact that, although getting there is a bit harder at the moment because of the important works that are happening on the Gorge Road, those businesses are still very much open and accessible. If people would like to go and visit the tavern or visit the Gorge Wildlife Park, I would encourage them to do so because they are very much open and available for business. Following those brief remarks, I would like to commend the member for Narungga for bringing this motion to this place. I commend the motion.

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (11:34): South Australia is a state with immense tourism potential. I therefore rise to support the motion moved by the member for Narrunga and state that I will oppose any amendments moved to it.

The visitor economy created by tourism is important because it also has a positive impact on other industries in South Australia, such as agriculture, wine, retail, education, real estate and transport. Many of the economic benefits it brings to the state flow to the regions. Regions receive 44 per cent of total visitor expenditure, despite only 23 per cent of the state's population living outside Adelaide, so growing South Australia's tourism appeal will create diversified employment opportunities and prosperity for all South Australians.

In South Australia, tourism is an important element of the economy. The tourism industry in South Australia has over 17,000 tourism businesses across the state, which directly employ over 36,000 South Australians. When adding the number of people who are indirectly employed, total employment rises to 56,000 jobs in the tourism sector, with tourism expenditure reaching $6.7 billion this year, up 8 per cent for the year.

There are many types of visitors to South Australia, both international and interstate, as well as intrastate and domestic daytrippers. Many are taking a holiday, while others come to see friends and relatives or attend festivals and events. Non-leisure activities include undertaking business, conferences and education. This expenditure is made up of spending from international visitors, which saw an increase of 8 per cent to $1.15 billion in the recent statistics, with Chinese expenditure making up $416 million of that figure. In fact, the top five visitor origin markets were China, New Zealand, Malaysia, USA and the United Kingdom.

Domestic expenditure from interstate visitors also grew 8 per cent and included 23.9 million domestic nights. Domestic daytrip expenditure rose 17 per cent in that time. The tourism objective is to target visitors who stay longer, visit our regions and spend money on our tourism experiences and other related services while they are here. South Australia's tourism expenditure growth has been in line with the national average. Tourism Australia's 2020 strategy has an ambitious target of doubling the value of the visitor economy to the nation, from $70 billion to $140 billion, driven by growth in inbound international travel and supported by continued growth domestically.

Tourism is a key contributor to not only the South Australian economy but also the local economy of Morphett, where, as it is so close to the beach and so close to Adelaide Airport, tourism is one of the key industry sectors in a local economy that is thriving and vibrant. Glenelg is a destination for tourists visiting Adelaide, with approximately 80 per cent of visitors who come to Adelaide taking the trip down to Glenelg. This has led to over 1.3 million visitations per year into the precinct and wider council area.

The majority of visitor expenditure in the region is generated by domestic overnight visitors. Interstate and international leisure visitors represent the largest growth opportunity, as they tend to stay longer and spend more money while on holiday. We have already seen the growth going on statewide, and it is important to capture some of that in the local region as well. There needs to be an emphasis on the tourism operators also because they are critical to delivering a fantastic and welcoming experience to our visitors.

While bringing visitors into the state is certainly very important, it is vitally important that they receive a good experience at the time so that they can encourage their family and friends also to visit or to make a return visit themselves at a later date. Attracting international and interstate visitors, teams and associated spectators, and convention audiences to South Australia, also keeps our restaurants and shops busy, increases occupancy in hotels and provides business for tourism operators across the entire state, including the regions.

In Morphett, it is certainly important to ensure that visitor expectations are balanced against the needs of local residents. While we have 1.3 million people coming into the area, we need to make sure that the locals get the benefits of that and do not feel disadvantaged. It is important that tourism is well managed so that it generates widespread benefits to the local community. Not only do local businesses benefit financially but local residents benefit from increased job opportunities, improved infrastructure and facilities. The upgrade to Moseley Square has certainly been a great asset to the community, and the future Jetty Road upgrade will be very important to the region.

One of the attractive aspects of living in Morphett is the impressive calendar of public events. We cannot underestimate the role of events to act as a trigger for people to come and visit. These play a vital role in increasing visitation and economic development. Local events include New Year's Eve, a stage start of the Tour Down Under, the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville Racecourse and other racing days, beach polo and beach concerts, to name a few. Angus and Julia Stone will be coming down before Christmas, so that will be a fantastic event.

The recent state budget is investing an extra $21.5 million over four years to the Major Events Bidding Fund to secure more lucrative major events and conventions to increase visitation, create employment and drive economic growth. We will also allocate funding equally between the two arms of the fund—the major leisure event fund and the convention bid fund—including a commitment to broaden the scope of the convention bid fund.

Previously, the fund had only been available to the Adelaide Convention Centre. Under the government's new policy, the fund is now able to be accessed by all metropolitan-based venues, as well as regional venues. This is great news not only for Morphett but also for the regions, as it will potentially open business events and conventions to those regions and allow them to access some of the excellent facilities we have around the state.

In addition to the increased funding provided for the Major Events Bidding Fund, $4.9 million has been provided to support the hosting of major events in South Australia. The Marshall government is investing an additional $10 million in 2019-20 to invest in marketing South Australia as a tourism destination in key international and domestic markets. The Adelaide Convention Bureau has advised that business visitors spend three times more than the average visitor. In fact, research shows that around 40 per cent of visitors to South Australia are inspired to return.

One of the councils in Morphett, the City of Holdfast Bay, won the South Australian Tourism Award for Local Government in 2015 and should be congratulated on its strategic plan to grow tourism in the local economy. Expenditure grew from $181 million in 2012 to $262 million in 2016, and visitations have increased, as I said earlier, to 1.2 million.

This growth has been underpinned by a focus on four key areas: driving demand, ensuring a quality visitor experience, tourism innovation and sustainability to make sure these are repeat visits, and consultation and partnerships with local businesses, local councils and also at state and national levels. The tourists flocking to Glenelg are aided by having a visitor information centre in Moseley Square. The centre was relocated to the Glenelg Town Hall in 2015 to make it more accessible to those visiting by tram or other means.

Additionally, a percentage of the increases in visitations has been from an emphasis on attracting over 500,000 event-specific visitors, which has generated $16 million worth of media coverage. Earlier, we heard the Attorney-General talk about the benefits and reach of social media. These events reached an audience of 53.9 million people, principally through social media and traditional media. These events often showcase the pristine coastline and help market Glenelg and South Australia to these audiences for their next holiday.

The natural environment along the coastline is a valuable asset and provides a compelling reason for interstate and international visitors to choose this area over others. Morphett is bordered by five kilometres of coastline and there is a diverse range of natural experiences occurring. These include dolphin tours, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Local business Temptation Sailing is often seen taking people for a sunset cruise along the coast. We are also looking forward to the Lifesaving World Championships that are being held in Glenelg in less than 10 days' time, where up to 4,500 competitors from 44 countries around the world will be represented. In addition to the competitors, support personnel, families and spectators will come from interstate and internationally.

Hotels, such as the iconic Stamford Grand, will provide accommodation for the athletes and their families. In fact, there are over 30 diverse accommodation offerings, with over 1,500 beds. The 2018 Lifesaving World Championships, along with other large sporting events that take place in Adelaide, will help support the local accommodation sector, which in turn supports local suppliers of goods and services.

I am looking forward to this event, and there are certainly other opportunities in the future to set Glenelg up as a hub that connects to the regions, such as to Kangaroo Island via a ferry service. The Marshall Liberal government is committed to supporting the state's tourism industry to grow to its full potential and, as the member for Morphett, I look forward to contributing to this government's agenda to grow tourism in South Australia.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (11:46): I thank the member for Narungga for bringing this motion and I rise in support of his original motion. I note the Major Events Bidding Fund, valued at $40 million, that has been put in place by the current minister to attract more events and conventions to South Australia over the next four years. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about sporting events and the significant part they play in the South Australian tourism economy.

South Australia, as we know, hosts an array of sporting events that showcase our state and attract interstate and international visitors, support teams and spectators. Sports tourism is essential to our strong, vibrant economy. Sports tourism is a rapidly growing contributor to the South Australian economy. Hosting prominent sporting events in Adelaide and South Australia creates economic growth through filled hotels, restaurants and retail establishments. South Australia has positioned itself as a destination for sports tourism by promoting our world-class sporting facilities and building its reputation for hosting successful regional and international sporting events and tournaments.

Hosting more major sporting events means more jobs and more investment for South Australia in a range of industries, including retail and transport as well as hospitality. I look forward to working with the tourism minister to deliver more in that area. South Australians' love for their sport and to be able to share and promote our state to visitors through sporting events is something that gives us unique pride. The upcoming Lifesaving World Championships is a great example of this.

As the member for Morphett just pointed out, the Lifesaving World Championships at Glenelg Beach in around 10 days' time is a great example of this, and it is going to be absolutely outstanding. The Lifesaving World Championships will see more than 4,400 lifesavers from 40 countries head to Glenelg for the 16 November to 2 December titles, which will also include competition at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Marion, which sits right within my electorate; in fact, a stone's throw away. Not only do the championships showcase excellence in surf sports and rescue, with the most talented and skilled surf sports and rescue people competing for the honour of being the best in the world, but the event also brings together sport, emergency services and tourism to promote our great state.

Marion's SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre has also played host to world-class events, including the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships, the Australian Olympic swimming trials and the World Junior Diving Championships. The centre will host the Australian Swimming Championships again in 2019, and the Olympic trials in 2020 ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games. These will see people from all over Australia descend on Adelaide to watch our own swim champions in action. The Marshall government is committed to attracting major sporting events in South Australia, as it understands not only the economic benefit from hosting such events but the role having world-class athletes compete in South Australia can play in inspiring people to emulate their heroes, join a club, get active and be healthy through sport and recreation.

The Marshall government will continue to investigate the hosting of sporting events that showcase the iconic places and spaces throughout South Australia. The government will attract events that have a lasting legacy and positive cultural, economic and physical benefit for South Australia. There are a number of events that we are very proud of. The Tour Down Under of course was initiated by the previous Liberal government and has been such a success for our great state. It is a unique event that really fits our culture as well.

We have the test cricket, the three-day international event in the equestrian world and the 2018 waterskiing world championships. The bowls World Champion of Champions is coming up in 2019 at the Adelaide Bowling Club. That will be a great event where national men's and women's champions from around 30 countries will come to compete here. Just to name a couple, the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships is another one in my local area, down at Brighton beach, that has been a great success right across the board in South Australia, as has the Adelaide 500.

I would like to turn our attention to some of the smaller events that do great things for regional tourism. The country championship events around the state are great at getting people out in the regions and bringing regional people together. The 2019 South Australian country swimming championships, from 10 January to 13 January in Port Pirie, will be a great event and a great opportunity for people to get out into the regions and be part of a wonderful sporting event. The 2018 Country Football Championships took place in Renmark. In fact, I was up in Renmark a few weeks ago with the member for Chaffey, the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, in his neck of the woods.

We went out to the wonderful tennis courts. They have a great event at Easter that a lot of people from all over the state go to. They often camp out the back on the footy oval. They have beautiful lawn tennis courts, and they have a wonderful tournament. In fact, friends of mine have been going since they were in their early teens. I will not tell you how long that is, Mr Speaker, but it is more than 30 years. It is a great event and a great part of the regions. The netball courts over the road are highly utilised by the locals. We know that the Riverland in particular loves to host events, and sporting events are one of their features up there on the river, so that is where they had the Country Football Championships this year.

I might just jump in and out as far as tourism is concerned. If you do go to Renmark, we went to the gin distillery there on 28th Street—

The Hon. T.J. Whetstone: On 23rd Street.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I might have had one or two gins and got a bit confused between 28th and 23rd, but it was 23rd Street, as the member for Chaffey reminds me. It was an exceptional place. I highly recommend it to anyone who is up in that area. It is a whole heap of fun and a beautiful set-up. You can sit out in the sun. A couple of people I spoke to were there a lot longer than I was; we just passed through. I think we had a little Bickford's tonic with a bit of the local product, and it was great to support South Australia in that manner. Some people who had been there a little bit longer than us had ordered some food, and the food looked fantastic as well. They were, shall I say, well on the way to enjoying themselves.

I can highly recommend that you get up to the Riverland. I dare say that people who went up for the Country Football Championships might have popped into the distillery there as well and enjoyed themselves. I want to note that Western won the Country Football Championships this year, and Jesse Kemp from Kimba Districts won the Don McSweeny Medal. Don is a great man in country football. He served country football for a long time and gave back a lot when he was with us. It is a great honour to win the Don McSweeny Medal.

The netball country championships this year were held back in June, from memory. This was a great event held at Priceline Stadium in the city. From 26 regions across the state, netballers came to the city. It brings sporting people together from the regions and gives them a great opportunity to showcase their wares in the city in front of talent scouts, selectors and the like, and the camaraderie at these state championships is just exceptional and brings a lot of people together.

Again, there are some benefits for the city as people come to stay and bring money into the regions that they go to. I know that quite a few people stay at West Beach at the caravan park, but they are dotted all around Adelaide, and then they go to the tournament. It was a pleasure to open the tournament and see the players really get in and compete hard. To have the country folk in the city taking part was great, and those sorts of tournaments are just as valuable as the bigger events that I mentioned earlier in my speech.

The national netball championships were held at Priceline Stadium as well. We had under-17s and under-19s from all over the country come and play. I am very happy to report that South Australia won the under-17s, beating Victoria—it is always good to beat Victoria—but we lost to Victoria in the under-19s and that is a little disappointing. It is absolutely outstanding to have a win in the under-17s and to be runner-up in the under-19s. That was another great event that drew people to South Australia. It was not a high-profile event like the ones I mentioned earlier, but it brought economic and tourism dollars into South Australia, which is great. Sport does that.

Back in April, we opened the Special Olympics in Adelaide and it was a great pleasure to be at the opening. I would not have been anywhere else. This was a wonderful event. There were 1,000 athletes who took part in eleven sports, with 800 volunteers and over 300 events. More importantly, there were more than a million smiles in this event. It was a pleasure to have these competitors and their families in Adelaide, and they participated with such joy. As I said, the opening ceremony was fantastic and the tourism side was an absolute bonus.

I was lucky enough to attend the swimming and present a few medals. The smiles on the faces of the competitors were better than I have ever seen. It was great to have the competition in Adelaide and it was great to bring the tourism here as well. That is an important role that sport can play in our community and the tourism sector. We look forward to working with more sports and having as many sporting events as possible at all different levels in South Australia, right across the regions and in the city, to bring more tourism to our state.

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (11:56): I rise to support the member for Narungga's motion and highlight the Liberal government's commitment to growing the state's tourism sector, particularly through the Major Events Bidding Fund.

There is no doubt that tourism on the Limestone Coast in the South-East is very important. Over the last 16 to 17 years, we have seen a decline in state government interest in the promotion of the Limestone Coast. When I went back home in the early 2000s, I remember having four tourism officers working on tourism in the area of Mount Gambier and surrounds. At the moment, due to successive cuts, we are down to one.

I want to acknowledge Biddie Shearing, the Tourism Industry Development Manager for the LCLGA. The work she does and the workload she has is quite incredible. Through the SATC, she has a very good reputation working with businesses and stakeholders, including our councils, to make sure that our area receives as much support as it can and also that businesses are able to promote their attractions.

To give an example of that, we now have councils taking ratepayers' money and supporting tourism in our regions—a reduction in state government funding being picked up by ratepayers. Donna Foster, who is the tourism and economic development manager at the City of Mount Gambier, does an outstanding job. In fact, her energy and vibrancy is really pleasing and she is certainly the right fit for that position.

Groups have now formed, which is great. Kent Comley is the chair of Tourism Mount Gambier. Tourism Mount Gambier has the vision of Mount Gambier being recognised as a world-renowned destination, delivering a top-class visitor experience that ensures sustainable growth in the tourism economy of Mount Gambier. If you download Tourism Mount Gambier's Changing the Tourism Culture strategy, you will be very impressed with the level of work that Kent and his board have put together for this strategy and strategic direction.

Tourism Mount Gambier has commenced its journey towards their mandate to change the tourism culture and set a pathway towards achieving their goal of international recognition as a top tourism destination. Tourism Mount Gambier is now actively engaged with the broader business community as they drive the message that a stronger sustainable tourism sector is good for the entire Mount Gambier economy. Their goal is to develop a resilient tourism industry body that is recognised for its commitment towards the growth and promotion of the Mount Gambier and Limestone Coast visitor economy.

Through their strategic plan, they certainly highlight the value of tourism in the Limestone Coast. Visitor expenditure is $292 million, with a potential by 2020 to be $475 million. There are 550,000 overnight visitors per year and overnight international visitors are 8 per cent. Interstate visitors overnight—these are people staying overnight in the Limestone Coast—are 35 per cent, with 57 per cent being intrastate visitors. With the value of visitor nights at $1.77 million and with a direct employment of 1,800, this makes tourism one of our biggest employers in the area. It is a real credit to Kent Comley and his board.

To highlight what can be achieved, Kent and his board were successful in receiving $20,000 from the federal government, believe it or not, from the Building Better Regions Fund to develop a guide for Mount Gambier. It is estimated that this guide, which is a tourist guide for the region, will increase revenue by $2.9 million each and every year. It is focused on volcanoes, geology, history and guided tours of Mount Gambier.

In the past, we have certainly seen other regions benefit from state government investment, including Kangaroo Island, the Barossa and a range of other tourist regions. I can understand the concept that you want to land people in Adelaide from overseas and then promote regions that are one or two hours away, but I ask the state government to remember the Limestone Coast, which is more than two hours away, and to look to increase the tourism spend in my region so that we can contribute to the state's economy. The unique advantage, of course, of the Limestone Coast is its proximity to the Victorian border, and attracting Victorian money into the South Australian economy can only be a good thing.

It is pleasing to see the previous state government's investment in Generations in Jazz has been continued through the Liberal government, as well as a recent announcement on the Mount Gambier Fringe Festival. That is where I certainly support the events bid fund. Generations in Jazz, as I have spoken about for a long time, has seen 350 school bands competing on stage, international jazz stars selling out 600-seat concerts and accommodation booked right across our region.

Obviously, the state government will spend $10 million per year over the next four years to bid for major events and this is certainly very good news. Across the next two years, the state government will also spend $10 million on tourism marketing to showcase our state to key tourism markets, including China, the UK, the USA and New Zealand. I am asking that the Limestone Coast be included in those key spots that are promoted to our international tourists.

An excellent example of where all tiers of government work together—federal, state and local government—is the Port MacDonnell waterfront revitalisation project, a $1.2 million project co-funded by the state government, federal government and district council. This is aimed at increased signage, public art, and will open up economic and tourism opportunities for this coastal community, which is of course famous for our southern rock lobster.

I also want to make comment on and praise the work of June Kain. June has been in tourism for over 30 years in the Limestone Coast and what June does not know about tourism is probably not worth remembering. June has actually written a discussion paper for me about Limestone Coast branding and she makes some very interesting points. The Limestone Coast is almost equal in size to the combined regions of Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula, Barossa and Clare Valley. It is one of the issues that we have in branding the Limestone Coast: it is just so large an area and so diverse.

June's suggestion is to actually split the Limestone Coast into four regions but maintain the Limestone Coast element: Limestone Coast, Penola and Coonawarra; Limestone Coast coastal areas; Limestone Coast Tatiara; and Limestone Coast, Mount Gambier and District or Blue Lake. Naracoorte Lucindale could be deemed Limestone Coast world heritage caves and wetlands, and of course Limestone Coast Blue Lake region would be ours. I think there are some very good points in this and I commend June for taking the time to write to me and put this discussion paper together.

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (12:06): I would like to thank all members who contributed to the motion, particularly the member for Ramsay for begrudgingly supporting this government's focus on regional tourism. I only wish that more Labor MPs had spoken in support of regional tourism. I find it quite telling that no other Labor MP could even bring themselves to condemn the government, which probably speaks volumes about the authenticity of the member for Ramsay's amendment.

The Hon. A. Piccolo: Not at all; I support it.

Mr ELLIS: Then speak in favour of it.

The Hon. A. Piccolo: We don't have to repeat ourselves. She spoke well enough for the whole team, unlike you guys.

Mr ELLIS: I beg to differ.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Narungga, continue.

Mr ELLIS: I particularly congratulate the members on this side of the chamber who lined up to speak about how important regional tourism is and who could not wait to inform the house and the community how important tourism is to the state's economy. I thank the member for Finniss for his insightful and passionate comments around beautiful Victor Harbor and its tourism opportunities, and I particularly enjoyed learning about Thomas the Tank Engine.

I also thank the Attorney-General, the member for Bragg, for providing some historical perspective to the debate. Clearly, I need to read a bit more deeply into the Sports Illustrated edition that I have not had the opportunity to pick up yet. It was pleasing to hear from the member for Newland that so many residents of his electorate visit Narungga as a holiday destination. I thank the member for Morphett for his contribution as a representative of perhaps the most famous of all South Australian tourism destinations, Glenelg.

I thank the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing for updating us on sports tourism. Just as an aside, I had the Bowls Australia over-60s national championship in Wallaroo recently. Over 200 people stayed for five nights and all spent money at the local hotel and accommodation. It was wonderful to see that burgeoning industry grow and it was wonderfully organised by a local Starclub officer as well. Finally, I thank the member for Mount Gambier for highlighting the wonderful things happening in the South-East. Thank you to all members for their contributions.

It is worth noting that this government has committed to funding for better boating facilities to the tune of $8.6 million, which will increase rec fishing tourism; $5 million to attract international and domestic conventions, which could inject up to $1 billion into the state's economy; investigating the developing of a great southern bike trail between here and Melbourne to attract a greater share of the nation's $2.4 billion cycling tourism industry; and new national parks in our southern suburbs, in addition to increased patronage of our current ones, like Innes. That is a significant investment. We know that only 20 per cent of tourists like to caravan or camp and if we can find a way to house the other 80 per cent in our national parks, it can only help continue to increase the awareness of beautiful things we have on offer.

I would like to pay particular homage to the events bid fund, which will be a major boon to the South Australian tourism sector. It is huge for our state, investing $40 million to attract events which will in turn attract tourists and hopefully get them to stay for quite some time.

If I could just ease the concerns that the member for Ramsay may somewhat unjustifiably hold, tourism is not being held back under this government: it is quite the opposite. Tourism in South Australia is about to take off. Rather than condemn the state government for the measures we are taking to support it, she would be well advised to support our motion and continue to support the South Australian tourism sector. I encourage her to vote to oppose the amendment tabled and continue to support the South Australian economy. With that, I commend the original motion to the house, reject the amendment on the table and implore all other members to do the same.

Amendment negatived; motion carried.

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