Regional Employment

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. Can the minister outline what specific measures the government is taking to address unemployment in the Whyalla region?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (14:55): Last Thursday in Port Augusta, I announced a $7 million economic package in the Upper Spencer Gulf and outback areas. This includes setting aside up to $5 million from the next round of the Regional Development Fund round 3 to support projects which will create jobs and drive economic growth areas. I brought forward the round 3 from next year into this year to stimulate and assist the outback areas, the Upper Spencer Gulf and the rest of regional South Australia.

I also announced a new $2 million small grants program exclusively for the region, called the Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program. This program will provide dollar for dollar funding between $50,000 and $200,000 for industries and communities in the Upper Spencer Gulf and the outback. I strongly encourage individuals—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is on his last warning.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I strongly encourage individuals, local companies, businesses large and small, as well as local councils, Regional Development Australia and the Outback Communities Authority to put forward applications for funding projects. Support for this South Australian government assistance has come from the mayors of Port Pirie and Whyalla, the deputy mayor of Port Augusta, the Outback Communities Authority, other councils in the region and the Regional Development Australia associations for the Upper Spencer Gulf. This is in contrast to the very disappointing and negative response from the opposition the next day. I must point out that no-one from the opposition, nor their federal colleagues, has provided one dollar towards any initiative to address the position people now face—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley will leave the chamber under the sessional order.

Mr Pisoni: How long?

The SPEAKER: For the remainder of question time.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Mr Speaker, I have to—

The SPEAKER: Would the member for Unley please leave.

The honourable member for Unley having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I reinforce: no-one from the opposition, nor their federal colleagues, has provided one dollar towards any initiative to address the opposition that people now face following the recent decisions by Alinta and Arrium. I have—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I have visited the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Warren Truss, and I have also written to the federal government asking them for matching funding. I would ask the state Liberals to do the same, and work with me and the South Australian government to secure matching federal funding for the Upper Spencer Gulf and the outback.

Mr MARSHALL: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: Before the supplementary is asked, the members for Schubert and Kavel are called to order, and the Minister for Health and the member for Finniss are warned for the first time. Supplementary.