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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-04 Daily Xml
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Tourism

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Can the minister update us about his recent trip to the NRL State of Origin that was recently reported in the media?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:21): I thank the member for his ongoing interest in my travels. It is interesting, there has been some media commentary by the opposition in relation to me spending, I think it was quoted in the media, some $996 on a weekend to go to the NRL State of Origin match in Sydney. In what is becoming a disturbing lack of due diligence that the opposition is doing on these trips, they might have been well advised to actually ask some more questions before jumping into the media about exactly what I did that weekend in Sydney. Sure, I did attend the State of Origin NRL match late on the Sunday afternoon, but I took the opportunity earlier that day to go to the Good Food and Wine Show to support—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The members opposite laugh. They don't like people from this government supporting the producers, who were there in their droves. Some of the companies that were there included Majella Wines, Angove's wines, Zontes Footstep, O'Leary Walker, Morambro Creek and Zema Estate. There was a group from the Barossa Valley and a group from McLaren Vale. Maggie Beer had a stand there and Tucker's Natural crackers—Sam and Cindy Tucker's business—hosted Tucker's Natural Cheese Alley at the Good Food and Wine Show. They were all delighted to see that I was there supporting their businesses.

Of course, I went to the NRL State of Origin that night, but the next day I had two very important meetings. I have reported on one and I will remind members opposite of that shortly. I had two meetings with Qantas and with Rex. The main reason for going wasn't to go to the NRL, it was actually to have some meetings with Qantas and Rex while I was there. Of course, that is important to get more tourists into our regions, more tourists into South Australia.

Of course, I did update the chamber that it was a very fruitful meeting with Qantas about their plans. Unfortunately, it was the first Monday following the closure of the opportunity to bid for the Qantas pilot training facility. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in being shortlisted, but it gave me an opportunity to talk to the Qantas executives about their plans for South Australia and how we may fit into any future plans they may need for pilot training.

They needed a facility they could get off the ground very quickly. I think there were a couple others in the offering that were old training schools that could be refurbished. I think maybe the Wellcamp one out of Toowoomba may be able to do something reasonably quickly. They did mention that the former minister and former premier were not particularly complimentary to Qantas at some stage during the last four years. Sometimes these comments come back to haunt all of us, not just the people who made them.

Of course, I met with Rex, which I think I may have elaborated on, but I will repeat it. Of course, honourable members opposite, the Hon. Clare Scriven and others, have been talking about Rex and their flights to Mount Gambier. Rex, as members will recall, came out of the collapse of Ansett and Kendell Airlines and Hazelton, I think it was. It was in September 2002 that Rex was born. As I said, it was quite good to have a chat to the executives about their plans and their desire to make sure they never compromise safety but always try to fly to wherever they possibly can, and to service regional South Australia and regional Australia, and they have a whole range of services across the state and Australia.

The interesting issue was that they did tell me that in the 16 years the Labor Party had been in office they had not ever received one visit from any member of the former government, so it is a bit rich when members opposite criticise Rex and criticise us in the early stages for not talking to them; they never spoke to them in 16 years. As you can see, what they thought was a smart and a cheap shot because I had spent $900 on a weekend to go to the football or the rugby, I actually had a range of meetings, and a particularly insightful one was the meeting with Rex. The former government, in 16 years, had never, ever taken the time to meet with Rex, and I think it is time they started doing a little bit more due diligence before they start attacking members of the government and the media.

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