Downer EDI Port Augusta

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:59): My question is for the Minister for Regional Development. What will the minister do to support the 20 employees, their families and the broader Port Augusta community who will lose their jobs at the Downer EDI rail yards?

The SPEAKER: Minister for Regional Development.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (14:59): Thank you, Mr Speaker—

An honourable member: That's north of Port Pirie.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I understand where it is, thank you, member for Stuart. I wasn't aware of the 20 employees being terminated, but certainly I will make an inquiry into that. Certainly as part of the settlement with the Premier, we have the $39 million this year for grants to get job creation opportunities out there and another $29 million each year for the three years after that. What we need to do is to look at training people to get more employment out there and use this money that we have achieved to create the best opportunities. But certainly to the member for Stuart, I will have a talk to you later on and get some more information.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary, member for Stuart.