Regional Growth Fund

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister advise how the Regional Growth Fund has delivered more jobs for regional communities?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, the member for West Torrens will leave for 20 minutes in accordance with standing order 137A. The minister has the call.

The honourable member for West Torrens having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:43): I thank the member for Flinders for his important question about how the Marshall Liberal government is creating jobs in the regions. As I said last week, it was a pleasure to be with the member for Flinders at Port Lincoln on 20 April, joined by the Premier, to launch the government's Regional Development Strategy. We were also joined by an excellent candidate for Flinders, Sam Telfer, who was involved in a key way in the development of the strategy as part of the committee of that strategy.

The strategy outlines the government's approach to engaging with regional communities and helping them thrive. The strategy is supported by the new Our Regions Matter website, which enables members of the community to log on to see what is being invested in their areas in schools, hospitals and sporting infrastructure right across the regions, making those regions stronger.

Today, I am pleased to announce the opening of round 4 of the Regional Growth Fund competitive round. The Regional Growth Fund is a $160 million commitment over 10 years by the Marshall Liberal government. The growth fund was an election commitment, another example of how the government has delivered on our election promises to the regions.

The round, which is open today, is making another $5 million available. We are calling for applications from regional business clusters, cooperatives, industry associations and local governments. The grants will be for $50,000, up to $2 million, which are available. Applicants are expected to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total project cost. All applications are open until mid-noon on Monday 12 July.

In less than three years, the government has already committed over $60 million into the Regional Growth Fund. This is real investment into our regions. For that $60 million, the government has been able to leverage $374 million worth of total value in investment in projects. These projects would otherwise not have happened or would have been significantly delayed without the Regional Growth Fund incentivising the investment.

We are making a difference. Projects like the $2 million investment into Ferretti International at Whyalla are supporting the region's steel industry. The Royal Flying Doctor Service received $716,000 to upgrade their facilities at Marree in the north. I also recently joined the member for Hammond and the member for Chaffey in the Murraylands and Riverland Mesonet localised weather stations, a $1.2 million project delivered by Ag Excellence Alliance.

Last year alone, the government announced $25 million in stimulus for regional growth funds, which was awarded to support $170 million worth of projects last year to stimulate regional economies. These projects are expected to deliver up to 1½ thousand jobs. Not only are we creating jobs but we are building opportunities and communities in the region. The government is committed to supporting economic development, jobs and growth in the regions. Our approach contrasts with Labor, whose failed Regional Development Fund racked up $12 million of project grants that actually never happened—$12 million of broken promises and failed hopes in the regions.

The Marshall Liberal government is delivering more than $3 billion in initiatives to help our regions thrive. The Regional Growth Fund has been incredibly successful in facilitating investment and in working with businesses to make South Australia better and stronger. We are committed to the regions and we will work with businesses to actually deliver jobs and significant investment in rural and regional South Australia.