Question Time

United States, Trade and Investment

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:08): Firstly, sir, could the member please table the quote from the Mayor of Unley and the source, and my question is to the Premier.

The SPEAKER: Let me deal with the minor issue of tabling a quote. I didn't see the minister reading a quote. Was the minister reading a quote and, if so, is he happy to table that document?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Yes, sir, more than happy to table it.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. The member for West Torrens has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier provide the details of how many contracts he will sign, how many jobs will be created and how much incoming investment these contracts will secure as a direct result of his visit to the United States?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:09): I thank the member for his question. I note that he has given us a very quick snapshot of how they ran the media—I mean, the government, when they were last in power. They would set up a series of signing arrangements—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —while they were there. I have reviewed some of those documents. Some of them could be worth the paper that they are written on—

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —but many of them were just documents that the previous government wanted to head over and have a photo shoot on.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They made a lot of fanfare about the number of people they would take on missions. This was their KPI: the number of photographs taken, press releases put out.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are taking a—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I remember one, sir. I can't remember the name of the car. Maybe somebody over there could remind me, but—

The SPEAKER: Tesla.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —there was one fabulously important car that we were going to be manufacturing down at Tonsley. Now, what was the name of that car that you guys signed off on?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: No, they don't like that. Sir, I know that you are interested in this, so I am going to do some research on some of the fabulous press conferences and deals that the former government signed up to. I won't waste any government resources. I will do it in my own time because it could be—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: There's a point of order, Premier. Premier, please be seated. I think I have the point of order. It's for debate. It's a fair point of order. The Premier is entitled to some contrast between the former government and the current government, but I think he has stepped over that mark and I ask him to return to the substance of the question, thank you.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We don't have a carefully scripted media scenario, unlike those opposite for their overseas trips. We are genuinely after growing the size of exports out of this state. I just ask you—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to reflect on the outcomes of the 16 years the previous government were in power. When they came to power, South Australia represented 8.5 per cent of the nation's exports. That's what happened when they came to power. When they left, we had less than 4 per cent—less than 4 per cent. That's what their hopeless management—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —of exports and investment attraction delivered for the people of South Australia. That, of course, manifests into an exodus of capital and young people out of our state. We say, 'No more.' No more government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —led by media outcomes, but a government that is focused on delivering for the people of South Australia. Every single day that we are in government we are going to be focused on the interests of the people of our state, growing our economy, growing jobs—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —stopping young people giving up hope in this state. We want those young people to have their future here in South Australia and that's why we are working on—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —attracting more investment into South Australia, more jobs, and the benefit of that will be felt for many generations to come.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the minister, the member for West Torrens is correct. I interjected the word 'Tesla' during the Premier's answer. I withdraw that statement. I should not have made it. I warn myself. I now call the Minister for Energy and Mining.