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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-02 Daily Xml
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A Day at the Drive

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:24): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on the success of A Day at the Drive and how the Liberal government's investment in sport is delivering more jobs for South Australia?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:24): I thank the member for King for her question. I know she is very passionate about tennis in particular in her community with the Golden Grove Tennis Club. She is doing wonderful things out there with the redevelopment they have going on.

Mr Speaker, you know I like a pun. In fact, some say I like to court you with my puns. I am not going to let you down again today. I have another serve for you. I can say that after last Friday night's event at the Drive many have said I am over the moon. I am probably closer to Venus—Williams—after that event. It was great to meet her and some of the stars who were here at A Day at the Drive. It was a great success.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: As you would be aware, Mr Speaker, we were the first place in the world to host a tennis event with spectators. In fact, I chatted to Serena Williams and I said, 'When was the last time you played in front of spectators?' She said, 'Last year.' I said, 'What, October? November?' She said, 'No, last year's Australian Open.' That is 12 months, then here they were in Australia, playing in front of the world—Adelaide, South Australia, at Memorial Drive.

All eyes around the world were on South Australia, with some of the best players in the world. I have mentioned Serena Williams and Venus Williams. We had Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Naomi Osaka was here as well. Ash Barty came to play. Dominic Thiem was here also, the world No. 3 and the US Open champion as well, and Simona Halep, one we have almost adopted here in South Australia, coached by Darren Cahill. There are 70-plus Grand Slams amongst all those, and that's just singles titles. The names don't get bigger. They were right here in Adelaide, showcasing South Australia to the world.

They spent 14 days in quarantine here in South Australia. Just for the record, there was only one complaint from a superstar about quarantining. His complaint was because he had 'no vac' to clean his room. He's a joker, that Djokovic. He is a joker, there is no doubt about it. It was 14 days. They were doing interviews all over the world, talking about South Australia and talking about Adelaide. Those opposite might not like that, but this was fantastic. There were no backhanded compliments; rather, it was a positive volley of reinforcement, a smashing result for South Australia to have promotion like this.

In fact, I think the number of followers they have on social media is more than the population of South Australia. That is the exposure we were getting. You know what? We built what matters. We put a roof on Memorial Drive and we got this event. I know the member for West Torrens was there too, and he was enjoying it. He doesn't want to admit it, but he was enjoying it and he loves seeing those big names on display.

A $10 million development got us the roof, and that meant these players came and quarantined, came to South Australia to play tennis. We had A Day at the Drive, and of course we have that further investment going into Memorial Drive. When we put the roof on, that meant we got the Adelaide International WTA and ATP event last year, when 46,000 people came to South Australia. Ash Barty, of course, won. Simona Halep was here for that as well. Again, it was another result creating jobs in South Australia by putting in the infrastructure that South Australia needs.

With the new development, the $44 million, we are getting the innovation hub as well. Tennis Australia is moving that to Adelaide because they want to be close to Lot Fourteen and the exciting things we are doing there. More jobs are being created in South Australia. All this dovetails into our state sports infrastructure plan. There is $214 million committed to sport to push forward into a golden era for South Australia: Hindmarsh Stadium; we also have the state sports centre for football, another $5 million in there; $12 million into the netball centre; and $5 million into Thebarton Oval as well.

We are investing in sport like never before and generating jobs along the way. Can I say again that the member for King is a passionate advocate for her local community and the local tennis club there. In fact, Simona Halep and Darren Cahill did a little video especially for her and the team out there at Golden Grove, congratulating them on the development and the new activities they are going to be having out there at Golden Grove. She has done an outstanding job. It just shows that when you build what matters for South Australia, you can get great results.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Florey, I call to order the deputy leader. I call to order the Premier and I call to order the Deputy Premier.

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