Stretton Centre

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:27): Today, I would like to talk about the Stretton Centre, which is a major centre in Munno Para. It is a centre named after Professor Hugh Stretton. The centre is a place of innovation and policy leadership. The reason I mention it is that the centre has recently celebrated its second birthday and I was proud to represent the Premier at the event.

For the past two years, the centre has been the focal point for collaboration between researchers, industry and government. It is a partnership between the Australian government, the South Australian government through Renewal SA, the City of Playford and the University of Adelaide. The centre has provided a clear demonstration of how powerful industry development can be a driver of sustainable community development. The month prior to that, I was there for the announcement of funding for two of the businesses based at the Stretton Centre.

The grants were from the South Australian government's Small Business Development Fund and they went to two co-workers at the centre, including Sally Ryan, Manager of Pathways to Recovery, an NDIS registered provider of disability and mental health support. The good news about that is that it has grown so quickly that soon she will be moving out of the centre and setting up in another location, so our key objective of growing small business has been achieved. Founder of Solution for Construction, Naveesh Sharma, a civil engineer and project manager, also won a grant to grow business in there. At the heart of the Stretton Centre are initiatives that create jobs, diversify businesses and promote innovation. It is a major focal point for jobs in northern Adelaide, providing a physical site for start-ups and entrepreneurs to link with local research organisations and industry.

Early this week, I was again at the Stretton Centre on behalf of the Premier. I had the privilege of officially launching the Gig City network at the Stretton Centre.

Mr Whetstone: With that moustache, yes, it worked well, didn't it?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: It did; it has actually won me a lot of things. I win a lot of races by a whisker, you might say.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: No.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Time is up, Tony; you wasted your last few minutes talking about your moustache.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: That cannot be right.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, apparently—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The table was engaged in really important conversation, but you have now been reinstated with three minutes.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I thought you had shaved off a few minutes there.

Mr Whetstone: I can smell something.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Yes, I am smelling the roses. The Gig City network enables the development of leading-edge, data intensive and real-time applications in industry sectors such as biotech, advanced manufacturing and film postproduction. It will help drive economic development in the northern parts of Adelaide. Since the launch of the program only five months ago, more than 100 businesses have signed up to Gig City, demonstrating the high demand for affordable ultrafast internet connectivity in Adelaide. The Stretton Centre, with 31 businesses co-working under one roof, is a focal point for job creation in northern Adelaide.

I also acknowledge that SABRENet, a leading innovator in digital communication, provides the backbone infrastructure for the connection. I understand that is so successful that it is using as much data now as some of the other centres in Adelaide, such as Technology Park. One of the important parts of the Stretton Centre's programs that it has also supported is the northern economic growth program, which was launched early this year. Part of the economic growth program, which is funded by the Department of State Development, was to provide co-workers with spaces for small businesses who are moving literally from the home but are not quite ready to go into their own premises but who also, importantly, needed business advice, mentoring and networking advice on finance, etc.

One of the small businesses, Red Centre Enterprises, which is a business run by Indigenous Australians, specialises in native foods. I am pleased to say that, with the support and guidance from the Stretton Centre, the mentoring program, the business advisory services sector, this enterprise centre has now moved out of the Stretton Centre and relocated into my electorate, of course, and they are starting to employ additional people. This enterprise won a contract with Vili's pies and pasties for their a new line of spices and herbs and other ingredients for pies and pasties.

It is clear from these examples that, by providing the right support to small business, we can then promote them to grow not only business but, more importantly, jobs in the area. Just these two businesses have provided over 10 jobs in the list this year alone, so we have 10 more people in the northern parts of Adelaide working and making a very important contribution to their families and the community. I commend the work of the Stretton Centre. I commend its director, Dermot Cussen, and also the City of Playford for working closely with the state government for the north.