ECONOMIC STATEMENT

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (15:15): My question is to the Premier. Did he, as Premier and Treasurer, consult fully with the members of the Economic Development Board before finalising the economic statement released last Friday and, if so, with whom and when?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his question. Can I say I was very grateful to receive the assistance from the chair of the Economic Development Board, Mr Raymond Spencer, who organised a series of round table meetings for me to speak to a very large cross-section of the senior business leaders in South Australia. That process was incredibly valuable in assisting me in compiling the economic statement for South Australia. Their input finds its reflection in the decisions that we made in coming to a landing on the economic statement.

I should also say that I was very grateful to be assisted by Mr Michael Keating AC, who undertook the modelling which we relied upon to reach the conclusion that South Australia's economic growth will occur under any scenario, even the most pessimistic scenarios for the future of our state. So, we have two very significant representatives on the board of the EDB. Indeed, EDB members participated in a number of these round tables that occurred across South Australia, and I was very grateful for their input into that process.

Can I make it very clear that this is a government economic statement. This is our expression of where we believe the economy is at this point in history and where it needs to be in the future. We make no bones about the fact that this is not an Economic Development Board document. It is a document of the South Australian government and it is a document of which I am very proud as it sets out a vision for the future of this state, and I think a very strong vision for a robust, diverse and successful economy.