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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-01 Daily Xml
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TOURISM COMMISSION

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question about the tourism restructure.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In 1991 the State Bank of South Australia collapsed with debts of around $3.5 billion. Not counting inflation, that is less than South Australia's tourism industry is worth to the state each year. Today the minister terminated the employment of the Tourism Commission's chief executive, Mr Ian Darbyshire, and employed instead a part-time acting CEO.

Incidentally, there was a royal commission into the State Bank collapse. The commissioner's judgement and the public verdict was that responsibility went all the way to the top. To paraphrase the intent of the findings, a minister has to take responsibility for all entities under his or her portfolio, not just politically, but managerially as well. If not, the appointed managers can risk public money without accountability.

Today the Minister for Tourism denied three times—although the cock is crowing—responsibility for the fiasco that engulfs the state's tourism body. She absolved herself of blame by saying the commission is a statutory body—which it is, just like the State Bank. She cannot pretend that she does not know what is going on inside the commission, because when I asked the minister in this chamber yesterday how often she receives briefings from the chief executive or other officers of the Tourism Commission, her answer was, 'Regularly'. My questions to the minister are:

1. What role will the former Michael Atkinson, Kevin Foley and Mike Rann media spin doctor Rik Morris take in the new, flatter structure?

2. Will he, a man with no experience in the industry, now be the de facto chief executive?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:29): In response to the last question, I can answer no; that's quite straightforward. To go back to some of the earlier questions and assumptions underpinning that, first, I need to put on the record that Ms Jeffreys will not be an acting chief executive, as the Hon. David Ridgway indicated. She is not acting in the role: she will be the chief executive. She will be operating at a 0.5 FTE position in conjunction with also chairing the commission, and that will be for a period of up to 12 months. She will have the full responsibilities of the chief executive as outlined in legislation. So, she is in charge.

In terms of absolving responsibilities, I have never shied away from wearing responsibilities, never. I am not afraid to make difficult decisions and I do not shy away from the responsibilities I have as minister—or, for that matter, any other responsibilities I have in my life. I have the same set of values that underpin everything I do and all my actions.

I reiterate the point: the board is an independent statutory authority. Obviously, in terms of their adherence to legislative requirements there are elements that the government has a responsibility for, and as Minister for Tourism I certainly have responsibilities in respect of those matters. In terms of the operational management of the day-to-day decision-making of the board of the commission, they are matters for the board and I do not interfere with that. It is not my responsibility and I do not have the mechanism to do that. I have a very blunt and broad power to direct the board, but that requires tabling that here in parliament.

So members can see that the line of responsibility and accountability is set up in such a way as to maximise the independent operation of the Tourism Commission and for it to operate in a commercially viable way—and, clearly, at arm's length from government. They need to get on and do the job they do, a job they do extremely well. We hear the buzz of the Clipsal race going on in the background but no-one highlights how wonderful the successes of the South Australian Tourism Commission are.

I saw people here at the Tour Down Under who were enjoying the hospitality of that event, a race that this government has advanced to become the leading event here in South Australia. It is a race that is coveted by every other jurisdiction, and this government has been able to take it from a race that lost money for the first few years after it commenced to one that now generates $40-odd million, with visitor rates of 37,000-odd. It is a highly successful, highly coveted race.

We do not hear anyone from the opposition espousing the achievements and successes of the South Australian Tourism Commission—no, no, no. What we hear is them bagging and badmouthing, pulling down our state, pulling down one of our leading brands—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You deserve to be bagged.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —the South Australian Tourism Commission. They pull them down, they bag them and badmouth them, and it is an irresponsible thing to do. Bagging and badmouthing these important state brands has adverse effects on the state. It is a major brand in this state, one that is very important in underpinning the tourism industry. It erodes public confidence and has the effect of potentially damaging future opportunities for this state. The opposition is completely irresponsible in the way that they are dealing with this.

In terms of the role that Rik Morris is having in relation to the new structure, Ms Jeffreys, in her new role as Chief Executive, has been given the responsibility to put together a strategy for a restructure and reform of the organisation. She is in the role as of today and she will commence that work immediately. I look forward to hearing from the board and seeing the plan that they put forward to restructure and reform the organisation to maximise some opportunities for tourism and to drive efficiencies and deliver savings.

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