Question Time: Mount Gambier Fringe Festival

Wednesday October 17, 2018

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:58): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier confirm that the South Australian government will show support for arts in regional South Australia by contributing funds to the 2019 Mount Gambier Fringe Festival?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:59): I thank the member for Mount Gambier for his question. The people of Mount Gambier enjoy a very vibrant arts community. I was down in Mount Gambier earlier this year for the Generations in Jazz, which was, in fact, the first time that I had been at that event. It is certainly one which is extraordinary in the inspiration it provides for our students to be playing alongside some of the world's greats. I commend the member for Mount Gambier for his advocacy of that great event.

In recent times, we have had the Fringe moving just outside metropolitan Adelaide, with the Fringe on Tour caravan. I know that the Fringe on Tour has been to Kangaroo Island—I see the member for Mawson get pretty excited—and Whyalla. The member for Hughes—Giles, sorry. We might rename the seat; it depends on how well he does. We will just see. We will keep it as Giles for the time, if you don't mind—is also excited. I think also the member for Stuart enjoys the Fringe on Tour going to Port Augusta and, of course, Mount Gambier. As for specific funding, I am very pleased to receive that question, and I will come back to the member as quickly as possible with an answer.