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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-11-11 Daily Xml
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Coronavirus

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:29): If there is one thing that has been reinforced this year, it is that we as individuals are part of a wider community and that the country is part of an even wider community. We can think ourselves lucky in that living in Adelaide, and being an island nation, we have not copped the full brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just the same, our lives have been changed, in some ways significantly, and quite possibly forever.

In speaking with friends and colleagues it has become apparent to me that we have learnt to appreciate what we have. We have learnt that state borders are suddenly not so important, and we have come to realise that the 'kick a Vic' mentality should be kept as a bit of lighthearted sporting rivalry. We have learnt that life is too precious and too fragile to play politics and one-upmanship over which city is best. Perhaps we have to learn to deal with the fact that we are better in some ways but not as good in others. I am fairly sure that Sydney can claim to have a better harbour than Adelaide, just as it is pretty obvious that Adelaide has a better cricket ground than Sydney.

In Adelaide we can consider ourselves fortunate that we did not go through the 112 days of lockdown experienced by our Melbourne cousins. Similarly, they will be glad that they were not living in the UK, Italy, France, Spain or the US, where new cases of the virus are being reported at a frightening rate. Right now we should be particularly grateful that we live in Australia, and embrace that fact.

We cannot afford to be complacent. As restrictions ease across the country and we return to something like normal life, we have to remain vigilant about the potential spread of this insidious disease. We must keep up the good work of social distancing, maintaining high levels of hygiene, wearing masks when necessary, and by not putting ourselves or particularly the vulnerable at risk. We cannot afford another wave of coronavirus, most significantly from a health perspective, but also from an economic perspective.

The good news for everyone who lives in South Australia, thousands of kilometres and several oceans away from the epicentre of the disease, is that we can enjoy a very good standard of life and living while we wait for the world to return to normal. With the likelihood that international holidays are still some way off, perhaps not even a possibility for much of 2021, we need to embrace what we have on our doorstep and enjoy it.

Many South Australians will be taking local or short holidays now because they cannot do their annual trip to London, Rome or the United States. Taking a drive to the Flinders Ranges or the ferry to Kangaroo Island is not just a great way to spend a few days, it is also economically valuable on many levels. It costs us a lot less than an overseas trip, we do not spend a day on a plane getting to our destination, and we put money back into an economy that needs our support.

When we start travelling interstate more regularly, the same will apply for trips to Melbourne or Sydney or a tropical getaway to Cairns or the Great Barrier Reef. People from overseas save all their lives to experience these trips, and we have them right on our doorstep, an hour away on a plane, three or four hours at the most. In 2019, more than nine million international tourists visited Australia and they were serviced by a tourism industry that employed more than 660,000 people. Half a million of those visitors came to South Australia and contributed a massive $1.2 billion to the state's economy.

They do this not just by staying in hotels and hiring a car but in buying local produce, drinking our world-famous wine and dining in our world-class restaurants. Of course, we want those numbers to return to normal as soon as possible and reinvigorate the tourist industry, but only when it is completely safe to welcome visitors back. In the meantime, we have the rare opportunity of beating the crowds of overseas tourists to the best accommodation, attractions and deals, all while supporting our own tourism industry.

There is a saying attributed to Winston Churchill that has never been more pertinent than now: don't waste a good crisis. The translation is that a crisis makes us take stock of our situation, appreciate what we have, and it often results in finding a better way to do things. I urge all South Australians not to waste this opportunity: go and see your own state and country in this gap year of international travel. You will wonder why you have not done it before and you will probably want to do it more often. You will also be helping to keep another Australian worker in a job while having the time of your life.

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