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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-01 Daily Xml
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TOURISM COMMISSION

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Tourism a question on Tourism SA local procurement policies.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I draw the minister's attention to the fact that the last four major SA tourism campaigns have used music from Eddie Vedder of the US, Gypsy & the Cat of Victoria, Spiderbait of New South Wales and Xavier Rudd of Victoria. I further draw the minister's attention to the common thread of these musicians, in that they are all interstate and overseas artists. I understand that at least one musical composer from South Australia has previously been used by Tourism SA but, typically, the approach of our Tourism SA campaigns is to promote interstate and overseas artists.

Yet, as a state, we can proudly boast that there are at least 1,257 musical artists across 20 varied genres (including rock, pop, thrash, acoustic, roots, blues, Latino, metal, experimental, electronica, jazz, punk, world, folk, hip-hop, alt. country, country, funk, indie, gypsy, hard-core and last, but certainly not least—my favourite—art rock) that are available on the Music SA website directory currently.

It is not exhaustive, and in fact artists from South Australia who live locally, such as The Hilltop Hoods, The Audreys or The Beards and of course the many brilliant artists who originate from our state such as Paul Kelly, Abby Cardwell or Sia Furler, could also be used to promote our great state, let alone give these 1,257 emerging artists a break as part of a Tourism SA campaign which of course gets massive TV exposure and also YouTube coverage. My questions are:

1. What consideration or attempt was made by Tourism SA to use South Australian based (or at least originated) artists in the last five years?

2. Does Tourism SA have—and if so, follow—any local procurement policies or protocols to ensure that campaigns run by the commission showcase and promote our own South Australian talent, rather than that of interstate or international artists?

3. Will the minister now commit to the council that she will ensure that future campaigns feature South Australian artists?

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

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) (15:19): I absolutely concur with the Hon. Tammy Franks's sentiments. Wherever and whenever we possibly could, we should be using local artists. Indeed, the Hon. David Ridgway has it right in terms of the procurement of really any matter for the Tourism Commission: they are operational matters and the commission is independent. They are independent of government, but I do absolutely agree with you that, wherever they possibly can, they should be using local artists. I believe that the Best Backyard campaign considered a local South Australian artist's music in that segment.

What I will do is continue to encourage the South Australian Tourism Commission to procure, wherever possible, local talent. Indeed, the Hon. Tammy Franks is right: not only does South Australia have many, many brilliant performers and artists; we have many wonderful and emerging artists who have lots of potential and we should be giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents and develop their talents here on South Australian soil. So, I couldn't agree more.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Dawkins, who himself is a bit of an artist.

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