HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-02-08 Daily Xml
Contents
Xml

Taste the Limestone Coast Festival

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:53): My question is to the tourism minister. Could the tourism minister please inform the house how the state government has supported the Naracoorte food festival? With your leave and the leave of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr McBRIDE: I was approached by one of my constituents, who is a prominent constituent. Rob Hanson came to me six months ago and said the Naracoorte food festival was at risk of not recovering from the COVID days. I have been a strong advocate for this Naracoorte festival. It is on this weekend on Saturday, backed up by the Naracoorte race cup and I know that they are very proud that they are still running the Taste Festival.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:54): I thank the member for the question. The Taste Festival in Naracoorte is back after a three-year hiatus and the tourism commission was very pleased to contribute $20,000 for this to make sure it could happen, particularly focused around security.

Now, this is a festival that is run by volunteers and I understand the Lions Club of Naracoorte has been a key contributor to this. It has been hard for those festivals that were suspended during COVID to keep that momentum and come back. As I understand, there will be 25 different producers, and performers, producing the best food, the best music and of course the best wine.

The Limestone Coast has been a really interesting region. We saw South Australians really discover their own backyard during COVID and the Limestone Coast has exceeded the 2025 target by achieving nearly $560 million year on year spend. I am so pleased to have people go back. I know people were also impacted in your region with the tariffs from China around lobsters and crayfish, but to remind ourselves of the fantastic authentic food and seafood.

Let's not forget about Naracoorte and its diverse multicultural population. For those of you who have been down there, welcomed particularly by your Afghan community, many have been there for several decades for now and are quite well established. But I met people from Vanuatu last time I was down there as well and from other Pacific islands who are often at the abattoirs.

What I really like about these festivals is the use of local talent and the music that will be there like Shaun Brown, Unruly Mob, Stringybach Music, and of course you can buy tickets for this event. What is it about events that are so important? Particularly as someone who grew up in a country town, it's an opportunity for you to come together to collaborate and connect but more importantly to bring interstate visitors. Of course, your near border to Victoria means you do have those interstate visitors coming. The wine region is world renowned, and of course it's going to be a great day.

Can I say to your community that I was really pleased to be able to help make this happen and, to come back after that break, they should be celebrated and recognised.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT