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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-04 Daily Xml
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Australian Hotels Association (South Australian Branch)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:27): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises the Australian Hotels Association (South Australian Branch), AHA (SA), was established in 1871 and has been an integral part of SA’s hospitality and tourism industry for over 150 years;

2. Notes that AHA (SA) is a peak industry organisation that represents and protects the commercial interests of hoteliers throughout South Australia, providing advice on a range of topics, including legislative changes, licensing, gaming, industrial relations, insurance, responsible gambling and community liaison;

3. Acknowledges the social and economic contributions of AHA (SA) and its members, which comprise 630 hotels in South Australia, from small country pubs to five-star hotels and resorts; and

4. Recognises the valuable work by AHA (SA) Executive Council and its Awards of Excellence program to fulfil its mission to encourage, foster and promote the pursuit of excellence in service, facilities and management practices among members for the benefit of the industry and the community of South Australia.

Today, it is a great honour to highlight the outstanding achievements and the important role of AHA (SA), which stands for Australian Hotels Association (South Australian Branch). For more than 150 years since its establishment in 1871, the AHA (SA) has played an integral role in South Australia's hospitality and tourism industry by representing and protecting the commercial interests of hoteliers throughout the state, and by developing the high standards of excellence in the tourism and hospitality sector.

As a peak industry body, AHA–SA passionately advocates for its diverse membership, from small pubs to five-star hotels and resorts across regional, rural and metropolitan areas. As the shadow minister for tourism and hospitality, it is a privilege to have worked closely with AHA (SA) over the years.

I recently had the pleasure to attend their AGM luncheon on Monday 1 May at the Playford Hotel. Mr David Basheer, the President of AHA (SA), in his speech reminded all of us that members of AHA (SA) are unsung heroes in our state. He highlighted that members of AHA continue to make remarkable social and economic contributions to the South Australian economy and our community across our metropolitan areas and regional towns.

For many young people, the hospitality and tourism industries provide them with their first jobs. Many young people have benefited from the work experience that paved the way to either keep working in the industry or equip them with skills that will take them further in other careers.

As a young teenager, I worked as a dishwasher at a local restaurant and was then promoted to the customer services team as a waitress. The money I earned as a teenager was sufficient to put me through school and university without having to ask my parents for pocket money. I developed my passion for the service industry and deeply recognised the tangible and intangible values that it brings. My personal and professional experience gained from my early days in the hospitality sector allowed me to be successful in getting my first full-time employment at the SA Travel Centre, which was a part of the SA Tourism Commission.

My previous work experience in the hospitality and tourism sector has been most enjoyable and rewarding. The transferrable skills and industry experience opened up many career opportunities and took me to a number of senior leadership positions, both in Australia and overseas. It was indeed a great honour to be appointed by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. David Speirs, last year as the shadow minister for tourism and hospitality. I feel that I have come full circle back to the industry in a portfolio that I am really passionate about. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to work closely once again with industry leaders, tourism champions, operators and hospitality businesses to listen to their concerns and to advocate for their issues and needs.

As we know, statistics and numbers are very important in measuring success. Adelaide University's Centre for Economic Studies research has shown that pubs and hotels employ 26,250 South Australians and contribute well in excess of $4 billion to the local economy. Mr David Basheer at the recent AGM highlighted that AHA members contributed $577 million to the state's taxation—a huge sum. It is a staggering 10.7 per cent of the total South Australian taxation revenue.

In order to demonstrate his points further, Mr Basheer mentioned that the taxes of AHA (SA) members pay the annual salary of 2,229 teachers, or equivalent to 1,689 frontline nurses. The revenue generated by the industry helps to provide essential services for the government, schools, hospitals and our community. To help its members navigate and succeed in business, AHA (SA) provides advice and keeps its members up to date on a range of topics, including legislative changes, licencing, gaming, industrial relations, insurance and responsible gambling.

Through its official publication, AHA (SA) captures the key developments of industry and highlights outstanding venues. With a proud history of engagement within the hospitality and tourism industry, AHA (SA) often takes a liaison role between its members and external agencies and government departments. This was evident with its guidance to its membership when they faced unprecedented challenges with the COVID-19 outbreak.

The support given to charities, sporting clubs and community groups by hotels in South Australia is more than $10 million per annum. On top of this, AHA (SA) members provide $750,000 each year in direct grants. Some of the 2022 recipients included SIDS, the Special Olympics, the Advertiser Foundation's assistance for Ukrainian refugees settling in Adelaide, the Sammy D Foundation, Puddle Jumpers, Kidsafe and the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation.

A further $25,000 in grants were given over the past two years to the FIVEaa Undie Drive, with proceeds equally shared between Catherine House and the Hutt St Centre. David Penberthy was the emcee who hosted the AHA (SA) AGM luncheon on Monday. He praised the AHA (SA) for their remarkable generosity.

I want to quickly mention the executive council and also acknowledge their Awards of Excellence program, which recognises the hard work, persistence and commitment of the businesses and leaders in our dynamic and resilient hotel industry. As shadow minister for tourism and hospitality, it is truly inspiring to attend many AHA (SA) awards and to witness the outstanding achievements of so many great local businesses and industry leaders who are pushing well above their weight and offering exceptional products and services to their customers.

At this point, I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the amazing leadership and longstanding commitment of Ian Horne. Many honourable members will know that the current CEO of AHA (SA), Ian Horne, has announced his retirement. As legislators, we have all had the opportunity to work with Ian in some shape or form at one point or another. For many of us, Ian has been the only CEO of AHA (SA) that we have ever known.

Ian Horne is a true gentleman and industry champion. I certainly have benefited greatly from his wise counsel, his profound industry and corporate knowledge, his impeccable communication and negotiation skills and his intellect and amazing ability to present his arguments in the best interests of the industry and AHA (SA). I will personally miss Ian, but I am sure he will not just disappear and will continue to influence the development of the industry, perhaps behind the scenes, in various consulting roles or in a board member capacity. Watch this space, I guess.

On Monday, Ian Horne attended his 34th AGM in an official AHA (SA) capacity as the outgoing CEO. There is no doubt that AHA (SA) members have benefited from Ian's leadership, experience and capacity to navigate new and emerging challenges in the industry with ease. His impact has been felt in tourism, training, licensing, gaming and industrial relations, and his list of achievements is long and illustrious.

Ian has developed the nation's best practice, industry-led harm minimisation measures. Through COVID, Ian's experience and capacity to work through all the complexities, where there was no playbook to call upon, saved many hoteliers and AHA (SA) members. David Basheer mentioned that Ian's greatest asset was his ability to recognise talent and assemble an outstanding team around him, which laid the most solid of foundations for AHA (SA) and the industry to continue to flourish well into the future.

Above all this, Ian has been a member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's advisory committee, a board member of Crime Stoppers and the vice-chair, treasurer and board member of the Adelaide Convention and Tourism Authority. In 2006, Ian was appointed to the board of the South Australian Tourism Commission. I would like to extend my enormous thanks to Ian for his years of dedicated service to the tourism and hospitality industry and convey my very best wishes as he begins a new chapter.

As AHA (SA) is transitioning to a new era with its incoming CEO, Anna Moeller, the association marks another milestone with its first female CEO in the organisation's 153-year history. Considering that women make up 62 per cent of the hotel industry workforce, the appointment of Anna is very fitting. Anna brings to the role a wide range of experience and an extensive track record in senior management roles, including over three years as the AHA (SA)'s deputy CEO, along with leadership roles at Bendigo Bank, the Motor Trade Association and in the local government sector.

I am really thankful to have a great working relationship already with Anna, and I look forward to working with her and the leadership team at AHA (SA) as she takes on the task of growing the outstanding legacy of Ian Horne and continues to develop the hospitality and tourism industry as an important pillar in our state's economy going forward. My heartfelt congratulations to Anna as she takes up this important leadership role from 10 July 2023.

With this motion, I would also like to extend my thanks and gratitude to the AHA (SA) executive council for their years of tireless work. I would like to acknowledge AHA (SA) President, David Basheer; Vice-President, Matthew Binns; Deputy Vice-President and Accommodation Division Chairperson, Andrew Bullock; Secretary/Treasurer, Sam McInnes; and Package Liquor Stores Division Chair, Elise Fassina.

I would like to mention a few words about the current president. David Basheer is a part of hotel royalty in South Australia as we know, with the Basheer family name being a large and influential part of our state's hospitality sector for over 90 years. Through the Basheer Hotel Group, David runs three landmark properties, and many of those are probably places that we frequently visit. As a third generation hotelier and having been exposed to a diverse range of hotel and pub environments, David brings a huge wealth of experience and expertise to his role as president of AHA (SA). He is also currently the senior vice-president of the national executive team.

David Basheer is a very persuasive man. He found out I was visiting the South-East and he made me and the Hon. John Gardner stop by the Kalangadoo pub just to take a photo and pop in for a drink. He said that I must do that if I am rightfully the shadow tourism and hospitality minister. We did that, and that particular social media post certainly went viral and was very well received.

As I mention these giant iconic people, I also want to quickly acknowledge the respected hotelier Peter Hurley, former president of AHA (SA), who served from 1994, being re-elected every year unchallenged until he decided to retire in 2017. Peter Hurley is an industry icon, and has had an illustrious career at AHA, joining the council in 1979. Besides the long-held presidency, he was also chair of various committees within the organisation including Hospitality Group Training, the largest group training scheme in South Australia.

Peter Hurley has also held the national AHA (SA) presidency twice and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016. Peter's legacy was one of great achievement in changing the face of the South Australian hotel industry. I can speak for many who have had the pleasure of knowing Peter. He is truly a wonderful gentleman, a pillar of strength with a sharp intellect, and certainly not a person you want to fight with. I am sure we all have experienced that.

The well-respected and colourful South Australian publican Peter Hurley and his wife, Jenny, are a formidable team who have run their successful Hurley Hotel Group which began with the purchase of the Wudinna Hotel on Eyre Peninsula at the age of 24, and grew the business substantially to include more than a dozen hotels across the state that employ thousands of people. With Anna, their beautiful and talented daughter as part of the family business team, the Hurley group will continue to be a strong driving force for the industry and our community.

It is a great honour today to move this motion to commend AHA (SA) for the wonderful work they do, and also rebuilding the industry as we recover. Particularly the hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit industries and the way in which they have managed themselves, the way that they have helped so many hoteliers to recover should be highly commended. With those remarks, it is a great honour today to recognise the amazing work and the champions of AHA (SA) and I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

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