❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Western Australian Gourmet Escape event, covering funding, attendance, ticket distribution, and producer participation. Some financial details were withheld, citing commercial confidentiality and ongoing review by the Auditor General.
AnsweredQoN 5799Legislative Assembly
Asked
26 November 2019
Member
Portfolio
Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Western Australian Gourmet Escape 2019, and I ask: (a) How much did the state government contribute financially to the event in 2019, 2018, and 2017: (i) Please provide a breakdown of how that funding was spent; (b) Will the Minister please provide: (i) The total attendance figures in 2019, 2018, and 2017; and (ii) The breakdown of attendance across Perth, Margaret River and the Swan Valley in 2019; (c) Will the Minister please provide a breakdown of attending, paying visitors by: (i) Intrastate; (ii) Interstate; and (iii) International; (d) How many free tickets were distributed; (e) How many tickets were given to Ministers' offices, how were these distributed and who attended; (f) How many tickets were given to Tourism WA, how were these distributed and who attended; and (g) Will the Minister please provide: (i) The number of Swan Valley producers showcased at the Valley event in 2019; (ii) The number of local producers showcased at the Perth event in 2019; (iii) The number of South West producers showcased at the Margaret River event for 2019, 2018, and 2017; (iv) The number of Western Australian producers showcased at the whole event in 2019, 2018, and 2017; (v) The number of interstate producers showcased at the whole event in 2019, 2018, and 2017; and (vi) The number of international producers showcased at the whole event in 2019, 2018, and 2017?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 February 2020
Responded by
Minister for Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Response time
4 days
(a) The inaugural Western Australia Gourmet Escape was held in 2019 in three locations – the Swan Valley, Perth and Margaret River. In 2017 and 2018 the event was known as the Margaret River Gourmet Escape and held in Margaret River only. I declined to disclose information about the amount of funding the State Government provided to the Margaret River Gourmet Escape in 2017 and 2018, and the Western Australia Gourmet Escape in 2019, when asked Questions on Notice by Ms Libby Mettam MLA, Mr Vince Catania MLA and Hon Colin Holt MLC. Please refer to Legislative Assembly Questions on Notice 2343 and 5255, and Legislative Council Question on Notice 2499. The major events industry is highly competitive and Western Australia competes with interstate and international destinations to secure them. Confidentiality of negotiations, contract terms and funding amounts is critical in order to maintain the Government’s ability to negotiate the best outcome for the State on future events. With respect to Question on Notice 2343, the Auditor General’s opinion was that my decision not to provide funding information was reasonable and therefore appropriate. Inquiries are currently being made by the Office of the Auditor General regarding my responses to Questions on Notice 5255 and 2499 to enable the Auditor General to form an opinion. If the Auditor General does not consider that my decision to withhold funding information was reasonable and appropriate, I will provide the information requested.
i. The State Government’s sponsorship funding is provided to IMG, the event holder, and added to the total revenue budget for the Western Australia Gourmet Escape. It contributes to the marketing and staging of the event.
(b)
i. 2019: 22,703
2018: 20,138
2017: 19,074
ii. Swan Valley: 8,606
Perth: 223
Margaret River: 13,874
(c) IMG has declined to provide a breakdown of attending, paying visitors as IMG considers this information to be commercial in confidence. However, independent research commissioned by Tourism WA to determine visitation to the Western Australia Gourmet Escape 2019 is expected to be available in April 2020 and will be provided shortly thereafter.
(d) IMG distributed free tickets by way of targeted invitation or competition, including a national and international public relations and media campaign. IMG has declined to provide the number of free tickets that were distributed as IMG considers this information to be commercial in confidence.
(e) 36 tickets were distributed to media, Ministers’ offices, Members of Parliament and stakeholders. See tabled paper # for a list of attendees, some of whom attended more than one event.
(f) 105 tickets were distributed to industry stakeholders, media and Tourism WA hosts in accordance with Tourism WA’s Corporate Hospitality Policy and Guidelines. See tabled paper # for a list of attendees, some of whom attended more than one event.
(g)
i. 27.
ii. The Perth event consisted of a series of dinners held at restaurant venues - Wildflower, Santini and Bistro Guillaume.
iii. 2019: 45
2018: 62
2017: 61
iv. 2019: 127
2018: 84
2017: 83
v. 2019: 3
2018: 2
2017: 4
vi. 2019: 4
2018: 4
2017: 5
i. The State Government’s sponsorship funding is provided to IMG, the event holder, and added to the total revenue budget for the Western Australia Gourmet Escape. It contributes to the marketing and staging of the event.
(b)
i. 2019: 22,703
2018: 20,138
2017: 19,074
ii. Swan Valley: 8,606
Perth: 223
Margaret River: 13,874
(c) IMG has declined to provide a breakdown of attending, paying visitors as IMG considers this information to be commercial in confidence. However, independent research commissioned by Tourism WA to determine visitation to the Western Australia Gourmet Escape 2019 is expected to be available in April 2020 and will be provided shortly thereafter.
(d) IMG distributed free tickets by way of targeted invitation or competition, including a national and international public relations and media campaign. IMG has declined to provide the number of free tickets that were distributed as IMG considers this information to be commercial in confidence.
(e) 36 tickets were distributed to media, Ministers’ offices, Members of Parliament and stakeholders. See tabled paper # for a list of attendees, some of whom attended more than one event.
(f) 105 tickets were distributed to industry stakeholders, media and Tourism WA hosts in accordance with Tourism WA’s Corporate Hospitality Policy and Guidelines. See tabled paper # for a list of attendees, some of whom attended more than one event.
(g)
i. 27.
ii. The Perth event consisted of a series of dinners held at restaurant venues - Wildflower, Santini and Bistro Guillaume.
iii. 2019: 45
2018: 62
2017: 61
iv. 2019: 127
2018: 84
2017: 83
v. 2019: 3
2018: 2
2017: 4
vi. 2019: 4
2018: 4
2017: 5
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