Hybrid World Adelaide

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Industry and Skills. Can the minister update the house on Hybrid World Adelaide—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms LUETHEN: —an event showcasing the latest technologies, entrepreneurs and early-stage developers?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Industry and Skills) (14:30): I thank the member for King for her interest. I know she has a very vibrant cohort of young people, in particular, living in the seat of King, and she is very connected with her community, including those young people in the seat of King.

I was pleased to visit and speak with many innovators at Hybrid World, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre over the last five days. It was exciting to explore what's next in the tech world. The talent on show was of international standard and is evidence of the growing strength of the innovation and technology sector of this state.

On Monday night, I announced the joint winners of Hybrid World Adelaide's 2018 LAB start-up competition. Congratulations to verbalize.science and Athlete's AI. They were joint winners of the $85,000 state government grant to further progress business ideas. I look forward to seeing their further progress as their projects grow. Sunday, of course, was the open day, where I firsthand experienced the combat robots, where people would spend hours, weeks, days, even months building these robots and then smash them up within a matter of minutes—remotely controlled. There was drone racing. It was very interesting to watch drone racing, and I have to say I felt very safe. I didn't feel as though anybody would lose control of their drones.

Those who know me would know that I am not exactly a person you would describe as a sports fan; however, I was intoxicated by the e-sports that were being played by the students in the high school competition. It started with the heats, where the students were working individually on computers, to get the feel for the game. They would move through the heats, and then they would move to the actual game where you would have three students on one side of the stage, behind computers, and three students on another side of the stage, and on a very large screen they would play a game that looked a little bit like a cross between soccer and the Clipsal 500 where cars would be used to kick the ball or move the ball along into the goals. I am pleased to say that Unley High School were the winners.

Of course, Hybrid World complements the Marshall government's vision to create a state of innovation and start-ups here in South Australia. You would be aware, Mr Speaker, that we are building the largest start-up and innovation centre in Australia at the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site. By this time next year, 2,000 people will be working in amongst that site, and that will continue to grow as we utilise those existing buildings and we start our projects with the new buildings that are going in on that space.

I would like to finish off by saying that those who have an interest in my social media will notice that I am often bumping into tradespeople who have gone on to do tremendous things in their lives. On Monday morning, Mr Simon Brooks—you will see him on Twitter—my French polishing apprentice back nearly 15 to 16 years ago, now a technology teacher at Mitcham Girls High School, was there signing in his students at Hybrid World to take them on a new technology experience.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Kaurna, I warn the member for Playford, who has been doing it all day. I warn the member for Hammond. The Leader of the Opposition is also warned. I call to order the member for Reynell, and the member for Davenport has a very distinct voice and I call him to order. Member for Kaurna.