SA opposition promises $9.5m for regions

SA's Tourism Minister has said the Liberals pre-election promise of a $500,000 dedicated wine trail is already being developed by Labor.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall has committed $9.5 million to regional South Australia if the Liberals win the March election.

The funding includes $500,000 to set up a dedicated wine trail from McLaren Vale to the Clare Valley, but Tourism Minister Leon Bignell says the trail is already being developed by Labor.

"We announced the development of the touring routes last year, we have done research interstate to find out what the market wants, and we are well on the way to implementing the touring routes," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Marshall said a Liberal government would increase funding to Regional Development Australia entities to $3 million per year up from Labor's $1.4 million payments.

His proposed wine trail would capitalise on the enormous appeal both regions have to wine lovers.

New roadside signage and a free smartphone app would be developed to help tourists find the hundreds of cellar doors nestled in the Great Australian Food and Wine Trail, he said.

But Mr Bignell said the promise was further evidence that the Liberals were an idea-free zone when it came to tourism.

"Now that an election is underway, they've come up with a plan for a wine trail that is already being developed by the state government," he said.

"The Liberals are actually offering less than what's currently being developed."


2 min read

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Updated

Source: AAP


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