OFFICE OF THE NORTH

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:08): My question is to the Premier. What action has the Premier taken to address the social and economic issues in the northern suburbs, and is the closure of the Office of the North an indication that he has given up on the northern suburbs? In May 2003, the government opened the Office of the North saying, 'The office is open for business and builds on the strengths of the northern suburbs and tackles the area's social and economic issues,' but the government closed the Office of the North in late 2006, only three years after it opened. Was Jimmy Barnes right when he said you have given up on the north?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:08): Given up on the north? Just think about the massive amount of activity, like Buckland Park, the lowest unemployment that we have seen in the north. Compare the unemployment rate in the northern suburbs under this government to under your government, when the Leader of the Opposition played such a magisterial role in cabinet.

Look at the Playford North development, look at what has happened at Salisbury North and the redevelopment there. Look at what has happened with the Lang Walker development for Buckland Park. Look at the Northern Expressway, look at Edinburgh Park's development rather than being some kind of Liberal mirage. Look at what is happening at Mawson Lakes with the defence contracts. I mean, are you serious, are you absolutely—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: New schools.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: New schools. We are seeing the Peachey Belt redevelopment and, because of the activity there, we have seen the massive refurbishment worth hundreds of millions of dollars of the shopping centre at Elizabeth. What we are seeing is billions of dollars worth of developments in the north, and, of course, coming soon—courtesy of our negotiations with the federal government—a giant redevelopment of the Edinburgh air base to be a superbase, with the relocation of a battalion from another state into this state—people spending money in the northern suburbs. Look at the range of developments that are going on in the northern suburbs and we will be asking you what you have delivered for Unley.