West End Brewery

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Does the decision by—

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni: How come Zoe's not asking the question?

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will cease—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Lee will resume his seat for a minute. The Minister for Innovation and Skills is warned and the member for Chaffey is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on both sides! The questioner is entitled to be heard in silence. The member for Lee has the call.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Does the decision by Lion Nathan to close the West End Brewery and move interstate indicate that South Australia is not the right place to invest? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain my question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: In February 2017, the member for Gibson issued a media release saying:

Coca Cola's decision to invest $90 million in Queensland and walk away from South Australia is a very clear message that they do not see South Australia as the right place to invest.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:29): The simple answer to the question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Playford is warned for a second time. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —that the member for Lee is asking, the simple answer is no. The reality is this was a decision by a private company. They make these decisions, and that's why it is very, very important for us here in South Australia within the government to be doing everything we can to improve the overall attractiveness of our state, and we have worked very hard.

We were the first jurisdiction in the country to implement our first stimulus and support package. We were the first to come with our second stimulus package, and there is further stimulus needed in South Australia, not so much broadbrush stimulus and support, like we have seen in the first two packages, but a more targeted and nuanced response directly to those targeted areas which are really still struggling in South Australia.

That's what you will see in the budget when it is brought down. We know that this is a very difficult time not just for us here in Australia but globally, and different economies are responding in different ways. We know that the federal government has just brought down its federal budget, and it was an excellent package of support for businesses, with some targeted focus on wage subsidies, not only for those sectors which continue to have that massive more than 30 per cent downturn on their revenues but also in critical areas of skill development, supporting sectors of our economy which really need it through this time, and of course another massive investment in infrastructure.

Here in South Australia, we have already announced $12.9 billion worth of projects. We are getting on with building what matters for the people of South Australia, and you will see more investment in the budget when it comes down next month. It is important that we do this to support our economy during this particularly difficult time. The Treasurer has already said that we will not be having a balanced budget for last financial year or this current financial year, but that's a decision we have made as a cabinet, as a government, to support as much as possible sectors which are adversely affected. We have already announced billions of dollars worth of support, and there will be further support coming in November.