United States, Cybersecurity

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:28): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house about how building closer ties with the United States will benefit South Australia, especially in the cybersecurity industry?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:28): I have really enjoyed an opportunity over the last 10 days to be on the front foot selling the state over in the United States, but I must say that it's good to be back. It's good to be in this place and updating you, sir, on the great opportunity—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —that there is in the United States and the wonderful opportunities that we have here in South Australia. It follows on directly from what the Minister for Innovation and Skills was mentioning to this house only a few minutes ago. I would like to congratulate him on the great work that he did over on the West Coast in January, working with his team to secure Mortal Kombat, a great production for South Australia, bringing Warner Bros and New Line Cinema to South Australia and creating sustainable long-term jobs in the creative sector and the screen sector for South Australia. Congratulations to you, minister.

One of the major focuses of my recent trip to the United States was to attend the Sea-Air-Space Expo, which was held in Washington DC. This was a great opportunity to speak to some of the largest firms in the maritime sector in the United States. Of course, we have a lot to talk about: offshore patrol vessels, Future Frigates and Future Submarines in South Australia. I have to say, we were warmly welcomed. That was followed up with the great opportunity that I had to deliver the keynote speech at the G'Day USA USA-Australia defence dialogue. This opportunity was created because the federal government is in caretaker mode. This provided, if you like, a unique opportunity for South Australia to be showcased at this very important dialogue—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader, be quiet.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —a dialogue that is now in its sixth year and features leaders from Australia, the United States, the defence sector and, of course, the defence industry. There is just such an enormous opportunity for the defence sector in this state because of the continuous shipbuilding program that the Coalition has put in place over the last six years, commissioning 54 separate vessels.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We hear the squawks from those opposite, but let's be very clear: in the previous six years, they didn't commission a single vessel—not a single vessel.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It is the Coalition that has done the heavy lifting with regard to this important sector. I also took the time to meet with NASA officials at the NASA headquarters in Washington. In that meeting, I was able to showcase the great opportunity that the establishment of the Australian Space Agency will provide for this very important sector—again, another Coalition investment here in South Australia. We're so grateful for the work that the Coalition has done to see these important industries in South Australia. I look forward to multiple future generations getting involved in the incredible opportunity of the space sector.

The other sector that I think provides enormous opportunity is cybersecurity. A lot of other people talk about the risk and the threat associated with cyber and, if you like, cyber attacks. These are very large; there is no doubt about that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: But the flip side of that—the flip side of the risk, the flip side of those attacks—is the opportunity for businesses to be created around dealing with that risk. That's the opportunity for South Australia. That's why I took the time to go to Maryland to speak to the great capability that they have in their industry sector, in their university sector, in their training sector and, of course, in their National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. It was an excellent trip that will bring many opportunities for our state going into the future.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Ramsay, Kavel, Morphett and Heysen. The member for West Torrens has the call.