Automotive Industry

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (15:58): Further supplementary, sir. Given that the Premier has just outlined to the house that he is not abandoning the $393 million jobs plan that he took to the election, can he tell us how it is going to be funded and whether it will be included in the state budget?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (15:58): Well, it is a plan over four years.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is: our $60 million, a request of the commonwealth of $333 million—given they are saving $1.3 billion, not an unreasonable ask I would have thought. There is obviously a task to be done which begins now. We have resources in the order of $100 million. We will get cracking on that and we will continue to advance our claims for the balance of the sums and you will see how we deal with further allocation of resources throughout the various budgets which will be fashioned by the new Treasurer and will be brought to the attention of the house in due course.

Can I say that a critical element of the jobs plan is the Jobs Accelerator Fund that was mentioned earlier in the Governor's speech. That is a critical element, to make sure that businesses have access to capital. I am very pleased to say that a number of banks—first with Bendigo Adelaide, but a number of other banks—are prepared to come on board to add their financial commitment to match the state government's commitment to allow us to actually back the transformation plans of these government enterprises.

Ms Chapman: How much?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Rather than ask the carping, cynical questions, what about getting in behind this initiative and supporting South Australia?

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education need not prompt the Premier with further questions that were not asked, and I call her to order. The member for Taylor.