Geoscientist Assistance Program

Mr GEE (Napier) (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Can the minister update the house on initiatives to support the resources and energy sector and the important work carried out by geoscientists?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:57): Due to its reliance on commodity prices—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sorry? Yes. The government's support for the resources and energy sector is recognised nationally and globally as being innovative. The ground-breaking approaches taken in the design of the Plan for Accelerating Exploration and the award-winning South Australia Resource Information Geo-Server, or SARIG, as well as the SA Mining app for smart phones have ensured South Australia has remained out front in meeting the demands of the resources sector, innovation I know the member is very supportive of. This innovative spirit does not end there and due to its reliance on commodity prices, the resources and energy industry more keenly feels the ebb and flow of the global economy, and as industry deals with the downturn, it is important to ensure that there is a highly skilled and trained workforce.

To address this the government has been working with the industry and our universities to assist graduates to get a toehold in the sector through the Geoscientist Assistance Program. During its last period of operation between 2009 and 2012, the assistance program placed 33 graduates and professionals in a variety of geoscientific roles, with almost all being retained by the company after their GAP tenure ceased.

The $425,000 budgeted for the next two years will help maintain, develop and diversify the skills base of geoscience graduates and professionals affected by this unprecedented downturn. In the first six months of the new program, GAP has already placed nine graduates and experienced geoscientists with eight companies. The program works by providing partial salary subsidies for the employment of GAP participants; negotiating appropriate work programs and plans in partnership with the industry partner; and actively engages tertiary institutions by promoting GAP and providing advice for all geoscience graduates wishing to enter the industry.

This collaboration with the South Australia Chamber of Mines and Energy, local universities and the resource sector can prevent the loss of skilled and highly trained individuals from the South Australian exploration and mining industry workforce. We have found that the two critical points in the commodities cycle is during the upswing when there is substantial competition for geoscientists across the country and during downturns when exploration budgets are squeezed and geoscientists with them. I am confident that the program will continue to meet with overwhelming support from geoscientists and their employers and generate significant interest for companies wanting to submit project proposals and employ exploration staff. I commend the program to all members of the house, and the member for Schubert can find the press release to be released in about two minutes.