HEITHERSAY, DR P.

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (16:08): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I wish you well in your future. I rise today to congratulate Dr Paul Heithersay on his Legend in Mining award, presented at the Mines and Money Conference in Melbourne on 30 October 2013. Dr Heithersay received the award for his role in guiding South Australia's transformation into a major destination for investment in mineral resources and energy.

In just over a decade South Australia has grown from a small-scale player into a globally recognised location for investment in the resources and energy sector. Leadership is the key word, and this is what Dr Heithersay brings to his role as Deputy Chief Executive of the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy's Olympic Dam Task Force. Leadership was recognised in June 2012 when he was awarded the Public Service Medal for his outstanding public service to the growth and development of the mineral resources sector in South Australia. Later in that year, in November, he was elected to the Fellowship of the Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences.

During his time, South Australia has experienced growth from four to 20 operating mines. Some of the key highlights in his role have been the implementation of the trailblazing plan for accelerated exploration and PACE2020. He has also been a key figure in the establishment of the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy as a one-stop shop for investors.

However, we should ask ourselves: what makes South Australia stand out and what is it recognised for? We can say that it is not only the quality of its resources but the high standards of its regulatory framework, the regulators who assess and also those who oversee the various resource and energy projects throughout the state. Most recently it was defined in specific ways that South Australia really does stand out, and that is in the clarity of our processes, the timeliness, the compliance cost, and the government agency capability, predictability and certainty and effectiveness. These are things we look for within our Public Service and we should support, congratulate and encourage this leadership.

Only this afternoon the chief geologist Steven Hill released geological data about the mineral potential in the Far North of South Australia. The prediction is up to $35 billion. This is an opportunity for all South Australians to be part of the opportunity that the mineral resources that belong to all South Australians offer to us. We know that one of the best ways for us to access this resource is by supporting exploration and providing this geological data.

Our reputation in this area supports South Australia retaining its title as Australia's best low-risk destination for resources investment for the fourth consecutive year by ResourceStocks World Risk Survey.

Dr Heithersay joins previous recipients, including former Normandy Mining chairman Robert Champion de Crespigny, former South Australian Minister for Mineral Resources Development Paul Holloway and the Professor of Mining Geology at the University of Adelaide Ian Plimer. The annual Legend in Mining award is selected by the editorial team at the London based ResourceStocks magazine. I congratulate Dr Heithersay on his Legend in Mining award and thank him for his dedication. I asked the house to support my congratulations.