DEFENCE SA

359 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (18 February 2008). What savings will be realised with the establishment of the Defence SA given that this 'will subsume the Defence Unit investment facilitation and marketing activities of the Department and the existing operations of the Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation'?

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): I have been advised of the following information:

Defence SA was established on 1 September 2007 and is responsible for facilitating the development and growth of Defence and sustainable defence industries in South Australia.

Defence SA combines a more focussed effort on delivery of projects related to key initiatives already won—notably the Air Warfare Destroyer project centred at Techport which is now under construction. Techport Australia and relocation of a new mechanised battalion to Edinburgh—and a stronger approach to winning and delivering additional projects in the future, in accordance with South Australia’s Strategic Plan targets.

Defence SA subsumed the operations of the former Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation and Defence Unit within the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

The establishment of Defence SA and absorption of the Defence Unit of Department of Trade and Economic Development and the activities of the Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation was approved on the basis that it would be budget neutral.

$0.270 million in savings has been identified as a result of the disbanding of the Defence Industry Advisory Board and the PAMC Board and the establishment of one combined Defence SA Advisory Board.