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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-11-29 Daily Xml
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O-Bahn

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment a question relating to business closures due to the O-Bahn extension works.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: The recent closure of the Royal Hotel at Kent Town, a somewhat iconic hotel in South Australia, has resulted in the unemployment of the 20 employees there. There are estimates that the hotel's trade has decreased by approximately 80 per cent since the beginning of the O-Bahn construction in March. Issues including severely restricted parking for patrons, increased noise and dust and major disruptions to traffic flow outside the hotel resulted in the hotel entering into voluntary administration. There have been suggestions that the hotel was not provided with enough support from the South Australian government. My questions are:

1. How much financial support has the government offered the Royal Hotel, if any?

2. What support will the government offer to existing businesses that are still operating there and affected by the infrastructure works, such as the Hackney Hotel? I understand it has experienced a 25 per cent decrease in trade due to the extension works.

3. Will the government consider providing compensation or other financial support such as grants or loans or other assistance in other forms, in kind perhaps, to businesses affected by this infrastructure work?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his questions. The O-Bahn project and any flow-on effects of the O-Bahn project are, of course, matters for the transport minister, so the substance of those questions I am very happy to pass on and bring back the honourable member a reply.

I don't think it was one of the three direct questions—I will take the three direct questions to the transport minister—but generally, workers, who for whatever reason the company that they have been working for is no longer trading, have access to our general retrenched worker services in South Australia through the Department of State Development, to include career planning, skills recognition and help with accessing training. For workers who, for whatever reason, have lost their job, there are state government services in place. In terms of the matters dealing with support due to a transport infrastructure project, I am happy to bring back an answer from the minister responsible.

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