Hotel SA November 2023

F R O M T H E C E O
Treasurer Stephen Mulligan.
POLITICAL RECOGNITION
At the political level, it was
reassuring to hear the Treasurer,
Stephen Mulligan, speak in
support of our industry.
This is critical because we operate
in areas that attract vocal minority
groups that would destroy our
livelihoods if they got their way.
The Treasurer was representing
the Premier, who had attended the
five previous awards nights but fell
ill that day.
“Can I assure you and your
industry that you are very well
supported by Members of
Parliament across the spectrum in
both Houses,” he said.
“We realise how important your
industry is …”
“So thank you so much for the
work that you do. Thank you to all
of those business operators, those
family businesses, those mums
and dads that over the years have
invested their own hard-earned
money to take a risk, to get in
behind an operation, to employ
South Australians and to make
such a success of it.
“You are such an important part of
our State’s economy and we look
forward to continuing the support
into the future.”
In reality, the government has been
highly supportive of our industry
and we are very grateful.
The Treasurer noted how
“challenging” the environment had
been for the hospitality industry
in recent years, and described
the Covid period as “horrific” for
pubs, but welcomed a return to
better trading conditions in the last
18 months.
“I know that it doesn’t replace all
of the impacts of those two very
difficult years but it does feel like
the strength of the last 18 months
has been some reward for the
resilience of all of the operators in
this industry.”
Realising that, I am sure there could
not possibly be any tax increases on
the horizon!
Treasurer Mulligan also reiterated
the government’s commitment to
big events to attract “thousands of
interstate and international visitors
to our State and contribute so much
to our economy - but particularly to
your businesses “.
Watch Video
He acknowledged the work of
the AHA in lobbying government
“to make sure we don’t forget the
bread butter; to make sure we are
investing in attracting conventions
to our city and to our state, to
support the overall level of activity
throughout the year.”
I would like to reiterate just how
important it is to be organising
“magnets” that will draw people to
South Australia during the winter
months and also to thank the state
government for their consistent
investment in major events and the
drive to make South Australia
a destination of choice.
Anna Moeller,
AHA|SA CEO
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