Economic and Business Growth Fund

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (15:07): My question is to the Premier. How many businesses have received funding from the Economic and Business Growth Fund as part of the government's initial $350 million stimulus package? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: The Premier publicly stated on 11 March that his economic stimulus package would include increased funding for the state's Economic and Business Growth Fund to support key industry sectors.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:07): That additional expenditure still goes through the normal processes of the Budget Cabinet Committee and the cabinet. We are considering a range of options, and of course we are most interested in those that can create immediate stimulus. I don't think we are in a position to announce those, but that work is going on. The parliament would be very pleased to know that the normal processes for considering the use of taxpayer money must go through a process, and must go through a very considerable process, to make sure that we are making good investments on behalf of the people of South Australia.

I would like to thank all members of the Budget Cabinet Committee, who have worked very diligently, and also all members of the cabinet. This is an extraordinary time. There was one week two or three weeks ago when we had six cabinet meetings in seven days. Every member of the cabinet understands our responsibility during this period of time to make sure that we are working as quickly as possible to provide that stimulus, but there are prudential constraints. We need to make sure that, when we do spend a cent of taxpayers' money, we are doing that in accordance with our objectives as a state, and I am quite sure that that is taking place.