Premier Steven Marshall takes tourism role from David Ridgway
SA Premier Steven Marshall will personally take over as Tourism Minister to lead the bushfire recovery across Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills.
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Premier Steven Marshall has declared tourism a top priority and taken on the crucial portfolio to lead economic recovery efforts for the bushfire-devastated Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island.
Current Tourism Minister David Ridgway will be sidelined in the shake-up, but will retain his trade and investment portfolios.
It comes after The Advertiser last month revealed tourism sector concerns that South Australian was missing out on almost $1 billion a year in economic activity.
“To help ensure its continued success and to underscore its importance to the state’s economy I will take direct responsibility for the tourism portfolio,” Mr Marshall said.
“Recent and ongoing bushfires have impacted our tourism operators, small businesses and farmers.
“The significant rebuild and recovery effort requires a team effort and a central and co-ordinated approach, which as Premier I will lead.”
The Advertiser understands Mr Marshall will today meet tourism operators on Kangaroo Island, the jewel in the state’s tourism crown.
More than 200,000ha of the island has been burnt, along with 24,000ha at Cudlee Creek.
Domestic and overseas visitors to the Hills spend $168 million while those who go to Kangaroo Island $140 million annually, boosting SA’s $7.6 billion sector.
The ministerial reshuffle mirrors a successful Tasmanian model, where the Premier Will Hodgman is also Tourism Minister.
The State Government has already committed $11.5 million for small businesses and primary producers affected by fires.
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“We are focused on doing everything we can to support them as they get back on their feet,” Mr Marshall said.
“This change will allow the Minister for Trade and Investment, David Ridgway, to focus on growing the state’s $11.5 billion export markets and continue to drive further investment opportunities in SA.”
The suggestion SA’s tourism sector was struggling was disputed last month by Mr Ridgway, and the South Australian Tourism Commission.
Tourism employs almost 40,000 people statewide, with more than 1600 jobs created in 2017-18.
Probe into SA’s bushfire horror
By Claire Bickers & Jade Gailberger
South Australia will conduct its own investigation into the summer’s catastrophic bushfires as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to initiate a national inquiry.
SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission chief executive Dominic Lane confirmed the probe as Kangaroo Island residents faced another horror bushfire day yesterday.
“The SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission will be conducting a review of the 2019-2020 bushfire season,” he told The Advertiser.
Mr Lane said details were yet to be confirmed on what the review would investigate.
Premier Steven Marshall would not be drawn on calls for a national inquiry, but a State Government spokeswoman said: “Our priority right now is getting through the current bushfire situation. We are committed to working with the federal government throughout the recovery and evaluation process.”
Mr Morrison has not ruled out a royal commission into the fires, which have claimed 27 lives and more than 2300 homes.
He reiterated yesterday that he would speak to premiers about an inquiry but the current priority was fighting fires and recovery efforts.
“We’ve had significant loss of life here, and that requires, I think, a proper response in determining what has occurred and how we can prepare better in the future,” he said.
“But right now, that’s not the discussion.”
Mr Morrison said he had not yet had any formal discussions with the states.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said there should be a “substantial” inquiry, and the Government should commit to acting upon its findings.
But he stopped short of calling for a royal commission, saying it would take too long.
Almost $1 billion worth of insurance claims have been made so far for bushfire damage in SA, NSW and Victoria since November 8.
The Insurance Council of Australia confirmed yesterday that 10,550 claims had been made, worth an estimated $939 million.
United Firefighters Union SA boss Max Adlam has doubled down on a call for a royal commission. She said it needed to address resources, scientific advice about a longer fire season in a “hotter, more precarious environment” and ways to prevent loss of life, health, property and wildlife.
“This is not party political, nor should it be,” she said.