FORMULA ONE EXHIBITION RACE

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (14:44): Can the Premier advise what progress has been made on plans to stage a novelty Formula One event in Adelaide as part of the Clipsal 500 and to base a business-class-only airline in Adelaide? The Premier announced in 2005 in breaking news from England that he had met with Minardi racing boss, Paul Stoddart, to negotiate the staging of an exhibition formula one race in Adelaide. At the same meeting, negotiations were also held on the plans for Mr Stoddart to base his business-class-only airline (OzJet) in Adelaide.

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) (14:45): This reminds me of John Olsen's tower of inspiration. Remember that? Front page: knockers stand aside. It was going to be huge. It was going to be like the Empire State Building in the middle of Adelaide. Then of course there was the former government's SAMAG magnesium plant. Remember that—the SAMAG magnesium plant?

Mr Williams: I don't think you should talk about that.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Yes, I can talk about it because do you remember there was a big story that somehow we had lost this to Queensland? Apparently, it had gone to Queensland. It didn't go—

Mr PENGILLY: A point of order: the question was regarding the Formula One event in Adelaide, part of Clipsal 500.

The SPEAKER: No, I do not uphold the point of order. The minister is answering the substance of the question.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Absolutely. Basically governments have to get in there and try to win and secure projects, and that is why we have nearly 90,000 more jobs than on your watch. That is why we have a defence boom and a mining boom. But there was SAMAG, and apparently I had lost it to Queensland. It has not been built in Queensland. Apparently then it was lost to Egypt. I don't think it has been built in Egypt. Then it was lost to Dubai. I don't think it has been in Dubai. I am not quite sure who it has been lost to now or whether it will ever be built.

Then there was Australis. Remember the Australis announcement? This giant television centre that was going to be a giant call centre. About $100 million was spent on call centres. What has happened to them? Then, of course, breaking news from the former government—there was going to be this fantastic world-class development down at Wirrina and there were going to be two jumbo jets a week from Malaysia.

Mr Koutsantonis: And the tram.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Yes, and you promised the tram. Who delivered the tram? We delivered the tram. Let me just say this: you have to be in it to win it, and I am very pleased that we have been successful because we are in it to win it. We have actually been getting some results in doing so.