MINING INDUSTRY

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:14): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier confirm that the Fraser Institute, which he has described as 'influential and respected', has downgraded South Australia's world ranking for mining infrastructure from 18^th in 2003-04 to 38^th currently? Is that why we now have 16 per cent fewer jobs in the state than we had way back in 1985?

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) (15:15): Isn't it interesting? This is the mindset that the opposition has.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: We've gone from four mines under them to approved 16 mines. There are another 25 or 30 coming. We've got the world's biggest mine coming next year. We've also got, of course, the decision this year—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —the decision this year which has just been announced to open up Woomera, which as the minister said—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Finniss!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —another country chock-a-block full of mineral wealth. More is happening under this government in mining than occurred during the time of every single previous Liberal government added together, but still you whinge. We have got a challenge with infrastructure. It is a challenge we relish, and the Minister for Infrastructure and I were there having meetings in Jinan, Shanghai and Beijing—all of which, by the way, are in China—on the issue of infrastructure with private sector investment for the future, in my view, guaranteed.

Mr Venning interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Schubert, behave yourself.