Regional Business

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister for Manufacturing and Innovation inform the house about the ways in which the government is supporting innovative manufacturing firms in regional South Australia?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:02): I thank the member for her question. Last week I had the pleasure of travelling to the Upper Spencer Gulf to visit some of the innovative South Australian manufacturing businesses that are doing great things in our regions.

While in Port Pirie I took the opportunity to visit some of the job creating businesses that are helping to support the local economy, including Nyrstar and the engineering firm S.J. Cheesman. The member for Frome, unfortunately, given his extraordinarily busy schedule was not available to attend with me, but was well aware that I was there.

Nyrstar only last month confirmed its plans to invest more than $500 million to transform its 125-year old smelter and substantially improve the health and environment for local residents. Nyrstar's continued commitment to Port Pirie and South Australia provides local businesses with increased confidence to invest in their own future.

S.J. Cheesman is just such a company. This Port Pirie engineering firm is among the first successful applicants to receive support under a new state government program to support home-grown innovation. I was delighted to visit their business and see firsthand some of the cutting edge technology that is being adapted to improve efficiency at Nyrstar. S.J. Cheesman successfully applied for funding from the first round of the state government's Photonics Catalyst Program for its proposal to adapt and engineer high temperature sensors to be used at Nyrstar's existing Port Pirie smelter. The sensors were developed by the University of Adelaide's world-renowned Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing.

The company's successful bid demonstrated how the Photonics Catalyst Program is helping to foster and grow South Australia's expertise and capabilities in photonics. The aim of the program, set up as part of the state government's manufacturing strategy, is to better connect South Australian firms with the sort of home-grown technologies that are capable of transforming their products and businesses. S.J. Cheesman managing director, Stephen Richter, told me that the high temperature sensors ensure a better control of the smelting process and help avoid multimillion dollar production issues and work stoppages.

I was also fortunate to visit Kelly Engineering in Booleroo Centre and Sundrop Farms just outside Port Augusta. I thank the member for Stuart for his guidance in setting up these visits. Although these businesses have vastly different backgrounds, both have embraced innovation and are striving to reach a common goal—growth through continuous change. This government has a strong commitment to regional South Australia. Although this trip encompassed the Upper Spencer Gulf, there are many other businesses in our regions that are also pursuing innovation as a growth strategy.

This government will continue to support innovative manufacturing wherever that may be, whether it is in the suburbs or in the regions. To remain a state that makes things, we need to continue to innovate and push for future technologies, and connect our local entrepreneurs with innovators and our businesses with markets. Manufacturing businesses are important drivers of regional jobs and of economic performance. Manufacturing is not confined to Adelaide and, as Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, I will ensure our regional manufacturers are not ignored.