Ministerial Statement

State Productivity Commission and Infrastructure South Australia

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:09): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I wish to advise the house that significant progress is being made in the establishment of a South Australian productivity commission and Infrastructure South Australia. Both of these independent agencies have a vital role to play in the government's plans to generate jobs, investment and economic growth in South Australia. To do that, our state needs a more productive public sector, a more productive private sector and more productive infrastructure for our state.

Both agencies will be led by statutory boards that bring together the expertise of our private and public sectors to provide the effective collaboration needed to ensure that South Australia's economic development is being driven by the best available advice and expertise. In relation to the membership of both agencies—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —immediately the government was sworn into office I commenced discussions with prospective members. There has been considerable interest in these positions such that the government will be able to announce appointments immediately the legislation to establish the agencies is passed by the parliament. Cabinet—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —will consider the draft legislation this month, and it will be introduced in June in accordance with the schedule of our commitments that we took to the election. The key roles of the productivity commission—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —will include undertaking public inquiries and providing advice to lower costs for businesses and families, and to make it easier to undertake business in South Australia through regulatory reform.

Infrastructure South Australia will be responsible for developing South Australia's first 20-year infrastructure strategy to provide the long-term planning needed to ensure that our major transport and other projects are established in the right places at the right time and at the right price. Regular reports will be made to parliament on the work of both agencies in keeping with my government's commitment to full public transparency in the administration.

I first advocated that South Australia needed its own productivity and infrastructure agencies well before the 2014 election, and I note that in recent months the New South Wales government has moved to establish its own productivity commission, while in Western Australia a state-based infrastructure agency is to be established.

There is bipartisan recognition that such agencies are the best means for state administrations to develop and implement economic policy and reform. Accordingly, the government looks forward to receiving the strong support of this entire parliament for the establishment and ongoing work of the South Australian productivity commission and Infrastructure South Australia.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the Deputy Premier—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order! I call the member for Schubert to order. I also call the members for Kaurna, Lee and West Torrens to order, and for audible laughter I call the member for West Torrens to order and I warn him once.