Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-05-15 Daily Xml

Contents

South Australian Tourism Commission

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:18): Supplementary: does the minister have any concerns that the act only requires that two of the up to 10 members of the board be women? Will this be addressed, given it's 2019 and also given the nature of both the tourism industry itself and the market that they seek to attract?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:18): I think currently we have more than two members of the board who are women and it would be my intention to have as balanced a board as possible. I value the contribution of women. In fact, in my own ministerial office, I was just doing a count before, I have more women than men in that particular office and it is a well-functioning, successful office. I have no problems in giving the honourable member a commitment that we will try to have a balanced board.

I think it is important to canvass a range of views, because of course the tourism sector is there for everybody, men and women, and we are trying to promote and grow that sector. They have played an important role. I would also add that we will certainly be looking to make sure we have the proper business acumen on the board as well, so there is a combination.

I would be very happy to have a chat to the honourable member offline around women who she thinks might be suitable, who will have the business acumen and who would be happy to be suggested for a role. They are the sort of things we would like to do in government, to canvass the widest range of people to be on that particular board. It is important to the future of the state. It is a very important role they have, so I am very happy to canvass any suggestions that the members in this chamber would like to put forward.