Premier Uses AHA|SA Lunch To Make Key Announcements

The Premier, Peter Malinauskas, used the AHA|SA President’s Lunch to make a series of key announcements this year.

He told the audience of over 350 people that the State Government would separate hotel and the general licences, free up the trading of gaming machines and restrict the ability of people to make unfair noise complaints against hotels.

The President’s Lunch was held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on December 3. State and Federal Ministers and MPs joined with key stakeholders to hear AHA|SA President, David Basheer’s speech outlining the key issues facing the hotel industry (see page 4).

The Premier also picked up on AHA|SA President, David's arguments about the ongoing skills and jobs crisis confronting the industry.

“This country does not have a student visa or a migration crisis,” the Premier said.

“This country has got a housing supply crisis.

“And we would do ourselves a great disservice if we had a federal election focusing more on reducing international students than we do on having a federal election about how we can unlock housing growth. To that end, this state government is doing everything we can.”

The Premier also expressed appreciation for “the professional engagement this government has been able to enjoy with the AHA”.

Pubs Are Healthy

He then reiterated earlier comments that “pubs are a healthy place to be”.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with a healthy social environment,” he told the audience.

“People getting together with mates or family, having a few beers or a wine or an aperol spritz…

“We're putting a lot of effort into getting kids off phones.

“We don't just want kids off phones, frankly I want adults off them as well. And getting to the pub and engaging with each other is healthy. It's a good thing, it's part of our tradition, it's part of our social DNA and our culture.

“Long may that continue.”

“The labour that you provide (for) a lot of people in this state, particularly young people, provides dignity, it provides purpose, it provides (an income), not just if you're in the industry on a temporary basis but also if you commit to the industry on a permanent one.

“That makes your industry exceptionally valuable.

“(Employing over) 26,000 people means 26,000 families. Families that are able to enjoy everything this state has to offer because a few of you in this room take big risks, put up with all the frustration in the video shown, and just make it happen.

“All we ask is that you keep doing what you do.

"We'll focus on doing everything that we can do to make sure this state does unlock all that potential.

“We continue to be ranked number one and increasingly the rest of the country looks at us not with scorn but with unabated envy.”