EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (15:17): Supplementary, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: If, indeed, it is a supplementary.

Mr MARSHALL: It is. Given that the Premier has just told the house that the government is investing in the manufacturing sector, can he confirm that, indeed, the budget for the manufacturing program within the department has actually fallen this year over last year?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:18): I think that the Leader of the Opposition misapprehends the way in which we have completely reconfigured government to face this public policy agenda. It is now one of the seven priorities of this government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is now one of the seven priorities of this government to pursue an advanced manufacturing future for South Australia. Every public policy instrument, every investing program that we can bend towards this objective, we do, including, to take one example, the way in which we interact with the commonwealth.

The way in which we resolved the River Murray claim to get, obviously, the extra water down the river and the way in which we sought to protect and grow businesses was to get a pool of funds which is directed at the diversification of the food and fibre that exists within the river communities. We have negotiated a very substantial package of measures, backed up by one of the largest investing programs the commonwealth has undertaken in this nation in advanced manufacturing in our region.

We have also decided to use the power of our procurement—our procurement power. When we think about what we buy, be it goods and services, we are consistently thinking about ways in which we can use that to innovate. When we have negotiations with BHP about the extension of their indenture, we put on the table an advanced manufacturing future for South Australia.

That is why they are investing in a precinct which will be a mining services centre of excellence to ensure that we grow the mining sector's products and services which are at the heart of making sure we take advantage of the mining growth in this nation. These are the opportunities that we present. It is not one program here or there: it is every sinew of government being bent towards this objective, because we work as a team on this side of the house.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Is the deputy leader quite finished? Thank you. Member for Mitchell.