Premier Steven Marshall lashes out at decision to award lucrative contract to Melbourne company

PREMIER Steven Marshall has called an urgent meeting with the South Australian Tourism Commission to work out why they awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to a Victorian company.

• Vic ad firm wins South Australia tourism contract

PREMIER Steven Marshall has called an urgent meeting with the South Australian Tourism Commission to work out why they awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to a Victorian company.

The State Government says it does not have power over the SATC because it is a statutory authority but will ferret out how the decision was made.

Mr Marshall said he did not understand the decision.

“It’s pretty difficult to understand why an agency, which is charged with the responsibility of promoting the state, has turned around and said the best people to promote our state is actually a Melbourne-based firm,” he said.

“I’m going to want a full explanation as to why this has occurred because we’ve got amazing talent in this state.

“There could be very good reasons but I want to hear what they are and they’d better be pretty good.”

The Advertiser revealed on Friday that the SATC chose a Melbourne-based company from a pool of 35 applicants.

The Opposition called on the Government to overturn the decision, which the Government says it can’t do.

“They must step in and overturn this decision,” Labor tourism spokeswoman Zoe Bettison said.

“We’ve heard a lot of talk from the Liberal Party about the ‘brain drain’ but they have failed their first test with this decision.”

Local advertising group Adelaide Advertising & Design Club called it an “absolute disgrace” when local companies should have been considered for the lucrative job.

SATC said it had access to a “global creative talent pool” through chosen company TWBA. Tourism Minister David Ridgway said it was “disappointing” but followed a thorough process.