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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-12 Daily Xml
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Barossa Contemporary

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:48): My question is to the Premier. How many of the attendees of the dinner that the Premier attended on Saturday night paid for a ticket to the dinner? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The opposition has been told that the only people who attended the dinner were the Premier, some social media influencers, tourism bureaucrats and a smattering of hangers-on.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:49): I've got no idea of the exact number of people, but I am happy to make that inquiry and come back to the house. I do think it's important, though, that we support our regions, and this line of questioning I find quite pathetic really.

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kaurna!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: A brand-new festival, a brand-new event for the Barossa. We know that tourism and the visitor economy is doing—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Mawson!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier might resume his seat for a moment.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Lee! Members on my right and members on my left, I remind you that the minister, in answering a question, is entitled to be heard in silence. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What I can confirm to the house is that there was no Spanish wine served at that event. As you would be aware, sir, this was a function that was run by a private organisation, and I was very pleased, as the Minister for Tourism and the Premier, to attend.

As I said, I think it is extraordinary that the opposition would refer to people who attend an important regional event like this as 'hangers-on'. They should hang their heads in shame.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It is a new low. We know the visitor economy has suffered due to the coronavirus—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Kaurna!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and we know the tourism sector has suffered throughout the coronavirus. We are doing anything we can to support the areas most affected, and some of that support comes through increased grants and some of it, of course, comes through new events and programs. I am very proud of the work the SATC has done in South Australia with projects like the Great State Voucher, but I am also very pleased that they continue an events program in a pretty tough period.

We know that events like cycling, the Tour Down Under, have been massively affected, and that's why it is important we continue to look to create new events, and this has the framework for a very exciting event for our state. I think, when borders allow, it is going to bring big numbers from interstate and overseas. These are the types of events we should be—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —supporting, the private sector taking risks, investing in new product development to attract people into our state. What I don't support is the opposition speaking disparagingly about people who are risking their capital to bring people into South Australia—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to speak of them and refer to some of the guests as 'hangers-on'. I will get a list of the people who came to that event. I had an opportunity to speak to a very prominent winemaker from the Barossa, and I think he would be horrified to be referred to as a 'hanger-on'.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I take my hat off to people like Charles Melton, who have invested their own private capital, produced an excellent product, exported that product around the world, and provided opportunities for our next generation to learn a craft. That's who I sat next to, and he certainly enjoyed the evening as well. There were a range of people there, but the barbs and political attacks from those opposite just serve to demonstrate to every single person in this state how petty, pathetic and unfit for office they really are.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is seeking the call. Before I call the member for West Torrens, I warn the member for Mawson, I warn the member for Chaffey, I warn the member for Playford and I call to order the member for Kaurna.

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