Government Achievements

Mr SNELLING (Playford) (14:29): My question without notice is to the Premier. How was 2017 a year of significant achievements for South Australia?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (14:29): You support a bloke through his career, and he throws a question like that at you. Mr Speaker, 2017 has been a massive year for our great state, and my government has been standing up for the people of South Australia throughout the year. It has been a year of significant economic transformation for our state, in particular the closure of General Motors Holden last month, ending an industry that has been the backbone of the northern suburbs for decades. There is Sir Tom Playford, looking down at his legacy. He would realise the significance of this moment. It has been a very significant year.

Elsewhere, our economy has made significant strides. Compared with this time last year, there are now 12,400 more people employed in South Australia. More than half of those are in full-time employment. While Business SA, the big east coast banks and the state opposition talk South Australia down, economic growth figures put our state at the second fastest rate of growth in the nation and the fastest per capita. This year, our state budget, which is in surplus, is focusing on growing the areas of the economy where the jobs are growing fastest.

We have seen some extraordinary examples in just the last few weeks. We have become a leader in cybersecurity, with VeroGuard Systems planning to build a hub in Adelaide's northern suburbs—600 jobs. A video game development hub will create 500 jobs. We will build two offshore patrol vessels in South Australia as work ramps up to the future frigates and the future submarines, a fight that South Australia and this government led, and we won a great victory. The biggest new mine in Australia, Carrapateena, is underway with OZ Minerals, now proudly a South Australian company. With the advocacy of the member for Giles, we helped to save the Whyalla steelworks, saving thousands of jobs and growing even more.

The Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme, in partnership with the federal government, a plan to open up the agricultural opportunities of the Northern Adelaide Plains, is creating thousands of jobs. Elsewhere this year, we have opened the nation's most advanced hospital, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, which our opponents did not want. We are investing a further billion dollars in hospitals across the state, including The QEH, the Lyell Mac and, of course, the great Modbury Hospital, which is so important to the people of the north-eastern suburbs.

Labor believes in the best public education for all students and the best education system for every student in this state. This year, we are building even better schools with our recently announced $692 million capital works program, creating 1,700 jobs. We are building four new schools: the south, the north, the city and, of course, Whyalla. This is all on top of our $500 million STEM program.

While others continue to talk, my government is delivering a plan for clean, affordable, reliable electricity.

Mr Marshall: How's that going?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We'll see how it's going.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We announced the world's largest solar thermal plant, a game-changer for Port Augusta as the town goes from a city of coal to a world leader in renewable energy, with another 700 jobs to boot. We have taken charge of our energy future. South Australians, for the first time since the shameful privatisation of our energy network, are now back in the game of owning their own power generation. Finally, tomorrow, the largest lithium ion battery in the world will be launched near Jamestown, placing South Australia as a world leader in renewable energy with battery storage. Mr Speaker, 2017 has been a big year and, under a re-elected Labor government, 2018 will be an even better one.

The SPEAKER: Apropos of that election, some members are anxious that there is a film crew in the strangers' gallery. They are there with my permission. They are an independent film company, Living Not Beige Films, and they are doing a doco on the 2018 general election.

I call to order the members for Davenport, Hammond, Chaffey, Morialta and Finniss. I warn the members for Chaffey, Hammond, Davenport and the leader, and I warn for the second and final time the leader and the members for Adelaide, Mitchell, Hammond and Davenport. Deputy leader.