House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Bridgestone Australia BRIDGESTONE AUSTRALIA Mr PISONI House of Assembly Unley BRIDGESTONE AUSTRALIA Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Did the minister meet with Bridgestone three weeks ago; what was discussed at that meeting; and did he provide a briefing to the Premier on the outcomes of that meeting? The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN House of Assembly Napier Minister for Employment Minister for Road Safety Minister for Science and Information Economy BRIDGESTONE AUSTRALIA The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:55): Yes, I did meet with Bridgestone about four weeks ago as part of a process that I have been running with various industry sectors. We have chosen nine industry sectors, aligning themselves with our skill boards. I have met with three industry sectors. One of the industry sectors was the automotive/advanced manufacturing sector. The Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone TG Australia attended. He was asked to comment, as part of discussion that occurred in a room with 16 other industry leaders, on the state of the automotive sector and the advanced manufacturing sector. He was given the opportunity. He did not at any stage indicate that Bridgestone was in difficulty. I then had, approximately, a five minute discussion with him at the conclusion of the event, and even in private discussion the Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone TG Australia did not indicate that the company was in difficulty, and I have briefed the Premier on the nature of the discussion.