Regions in Focus Roadshows

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. How are the Regions in Focus roadshows progressing?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (15:14): I thank the member for Giles for his question.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert will suffer the heavy penalty of withdrawing for the remainder of question time under the sessional order.

The honourable member for Schubert having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I am pleased to update the house on the progress of the second round of the Regions in Focus roadshows. The first round of the roadshows were held in the middle of last year to identify the particular issues of concern to each region that was seen as holding back economic development and growth, as well as the shared issues and priorities across the whole state. I am now undertaking the second round of the roadshows. I am sitting around the table with regional development associations, Regions SA and other state government representatives, as well as business and community leaders to discuss the progress made on each of the regions' top three priorities.

So far I have had roadshows in the following regions: Barossa Light and Lower North, the Riverland and Murraylands, Yorke and Mid North, Far North and also Kangaroo Island. This morning I was in Strathalbyn for the Fleurieu and Adelaide regions roadshow. I was pleased to hear experts from across state government agencies report back on the top three priorities identified last year which were: reform in planning, reform affecting employment arrangements, and tourism.

I was also pleased to see significant progress made on these three priorities, including the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 being recently passed by parliament, championed by the Attorney-General, and the extension of the small business payroll tax rebate for an additional four years as announced by the Treasurer in the budget. This will save eligible small businesses up to $9,800 per year.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is on two warnings, as is the leader and the member for Morialta.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Job creation grants, another excellent initiative in this budget which will deliver up to $10,000 over two years for each new full-time equivalent job created in small and medium-size businesses liable for payroll tax in South Australia; the establishment of the Simpler Regulation Unit to address costs to small business; to address the tourism priority, a number of regional branding and marketing initiatives have been developed with the support of PIRSA to promote the unique experiences available in the Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu region; the 90-day transport project, which DPTI and PIRSA are working on together to assess and resolve issues of movement of agricultural machinery; and efficiencies for logistics in the primary industry sector will deliver immediate gains in productivity, creating opportunities for food and wine businesses to expand or co-locate specifically in regional South Australia.

The roadshows have been about listening to the aspirations of communities. It is about looking at what we can do as a state government to assist regions to meet those aspirations. We all know how important our regions are to South Australia and I want to keep working across state government with the federal government, with local government, and with all the innovative and inspiring businesses out there to create opportunities that allow our regions to grow and prosper. I look forward to continuing our active progress on the priorities that are most important to each region.