Northern Economic Plan

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:33): I just want to talk a little today about my local area, the northern suburbs of Adelaide, and some of the challenges that we face, together with some other local MPs here, and how we are going about addressing some of those challenges. I am not going to go over today all the facts and figures—they have been well canvassed—or labour the point that Holden's demise will significantly change the landscape of the north.

I will just remind members that at the moment the northern suburbs based industries employ twice the state's average in manufacturing and this, as we all know, leaves the area particularly vulnerable at a time when the sector is transforming from the traditional heavy manufacturing of the past to modern advanced forms of manufacturing, and also at a time when uncertainty over defence contract procurement as well is putting added pressure on manufacturing workers and their families.

There are some positives. We also know that, if we work together, as we are, with business and with the local community, we have many opportunities for growth in other industries, including, as the Minister for Agriculture has pointed out many times today in fact, food manufacturing, also health care, education and professional services. The state government, under the leadership of the Premier, the Treasurer and the Minister for Automotive Transformation, is developing the Northern Economic Plan, which is a collaboration and an ongoing consultation aimed at developing new business and new jobs in northern Adelaide, based on the region's strengths. It will focus on areas of growth, on the land that is available for development and the infrastructure, including transport, power and community services, that will be necessary for a sustainable future.

Part of this, of course, is the northern suburbs' potential as a major food production and distribution hub for the state. Again, the Minister for Agriculture speaks about that often in this place and did again today. In collaboration with Food SA, we are investigating the possibility of a food park in northern Adelaide. The idea, of course, is that such a park—and I know the member for Taylor has worked very hard on this—would bring together manufacturing, packaging, distribution and transport companies in the one precinct to increase business and exports.

I think this is an idea that has a lot of merit, and I want to thank the member for Taylor for her work in Taylor, just across the train line from my electorate. I know there has also been some private investment interest in this area generally, and I would like to see the focus remain on the north, as I am sure the member for Taylor would, as the ideal site for any future development or developments of this kind.

I just want to mention in passing also, as the Minister for Transport did earlier, that it is great news that the Northern Connector has finally got the green light. It was almost the last act of prime minister Abbott, and perhaps his finest hour was giving the green light to the Northern Connector. I also want to thank the Minister for Transport and the new Minister for Cities and the Built Environment who, I understand, are great friends. I want to thank them both for their work in giving the green light to that project.

I also want to mention in passing the Minister for Education, the Treasurer and the leadership at Fremont-Elizabeth City High School for their foresight in this year's budget in providing much-needed extra investment for the only high school in my electorate. It is a high school which needs such investment and will make very good use of it, I am sure.

As I said, making the Northern Economic Plan work and making it responsive to the real needs of our community in the north is about collaboration and consultation. It is about developing a shared vision of the future of the region with industry, all levels of government, workers and their unions, and everyone who works, lives and plays in the north.

The development of the Northern Economic Plan is multifaceted but, over recent weeks, it has involved a high level of engagement with the community. I have been out there talking to residents and small businesses in my area, as has the Minister for Automotive Transformation and his advisers. We have held several public forums and consulted as widely as possible with both business and the community.

Earlier this month, the Minister for Automotive Transformation hosted a northern Adelaide industry engagement breakfast at the Central District Football Club where industry leaders from businesses across northern Adelaide were encouraged to contribute their views on a sustainable future for Adelaide's north. It was a very well-attended event. As well as representatives from local businesses large and small, there were local MPs galore. The members for Wright, Taylor and Napier, and the federal member for Wakefield were there, as well as the mayors of Salisbury, Playford and Port Adelaide Enfield. Local government was very well represented.

The atmosphere there, it has to be said and I am sure everyone will agree, was extremely productive. There was a real sense of urgency and of a need to work together for the north regardless of politics and business differences. On this last point, it was especially encouraging to see people put long-held differences aside for the good of the northern suburbs and everyone acknowledge the strengths and contributions of all the other parties, whether business or state or local government.

People spoke passionately and honestly about the role of government and also about the roles and responsibilities of the businesses in the north that will be needed to make any economic plan work going forward. I commend the Premier and the Minister for Automotive Transformation on their work so far, and I commend the local councils, mayors and local businesses who are embracing the Northern Economic Plan.