Innovation Policies

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on the Marshall Liberal government's success in driving innovation here in South Australia and is the minister aware of any alternate plans?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: standing order 97 says questions should not involve any argument. The member is claiming 'success' for whatever she is talking about.

The SPEAKER: It's a matter of fine judgement. I will give the member an opportunity to rephrase the question. I think minor surgery to the question might allow us to arrive at a different destination.

Mrs POWER: We do know those opposite hate good news. So my question is to the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs POWER: —Minister for Innovation and Skills.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Please don't provoke the opposition, member for Elder.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister for Transport! The member for West Torrens is called to order.

Mrs POWER: Don't worry. I won't ask it with as much enthusiasm as yesterday's question. My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on what the Marshall Liberal government is doing in terms of driving innovation here in South Australia, and is the minister aware of any alternate plans?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:44): Thank you, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: It is terrific to get another question from a government member about innovation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is called to order.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —because this is what this government is all about. Not a single question in the four years we have been in government from the other side on innovation—they still think we are in the Industrial Revolution over there. They have been nowhere to be seen in technology in the last four years, let alone when they were in government.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: standing order 98. The minister is attempting to debate the answer—badly—and that means it is out of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: That may be, member for West Torrens, but the noise in the chamber has meant that, keen as I am to hear the minister, I am struggling. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: I thank the member for Elder for her interest in innovation and the work that the Marshall government is doing. We took a clear innovation policy to the last state election, and we have delivered.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is warned.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The Marshall Liberal government's success in delivering outstanding results, in partnership with industry, has been recognised across the country and around the world. Since coming to office, this government has driven a change in the culture of entrepreneurship and significant growth in the tech sector. We are now emerging as one of the nation's leading centres for technology companies and start-ups. A recent report by Accenture found that the technology industry supports—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is called to order.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —33,000 jobs here in South Australia and contributes $6 billion annually to the South Australian economy. Furthermore, the technology council of South Australia, or the TCA, named Adelaide as one of Australia's tech and startup powerhouses. The TCA's CEO, former South Australian Kate Pounder, now based in Canberra, says she left Adelaide after graduating from university to pursue a career in the technology sector. Two decades later, she said Adelaide is emerging from COVID-19 as one the country's leading centres for technology companies and startups, backed by a supportive state government, a deep talent pool and an attractive and affordable lifestyle. To quote Kate Pounder:

I left Adelaide because at that time if you were interested in the tech sector and tech policy there wasn't a lot of opportunity in Adelaide, so I'm really excited to see the way the industry's grown here and the great work that the state government's doing…

She goes on to say:

I think it means for that next generation of people coming forward, they've got the choice to stay now in Adelaide and pursue their career there.

So there you are. This is why we are seeing more people returning to South Australia and we are seeing an increase in net state migration here in South Australia—because we are offering real careers. There are companies employing South Australians right now, companies like MTX, Amazon Web Services, MIT, AIML and BAE, just to name a few. Why are they coming?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Wright!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Because the skills are here and the pathways into those sectors are here. These are the skills of tomorrow that have arrived in South Australia. Those opposite kept talking about the transitioning economy but did nothing about it. Well, it's here. Those jobs of the future are here in South Australia, and we are making sure that every South Australian has an opportunity to move into the new pathway.

JobTrainer was announced as a response to COVID, with $145 million. We used JobTrainer money to start a new relationship with KIK Innovation, which brought the French coding school 42 to South Australia, the only French coding school in Australia. There are 60 around the world and the only one in Australia is here in Adelaide. A four-week boot camp of training incorporates micro-credentials in ICT and business skills.

Graduates of the 42 Adelaide school end up being offered jobs and traineeships by some of the largest and fastest growing tech companies in South Australia, such as Loftus Technology, Lockheed Martin, OzRunways, elmTEK, FOUR, Accenture, Sine, MTX and more. The Marshall government's high-tech sector plan has brought those companies here to South Australia. They are here because they can get the staff, they are here because of the business conditions we have set up, and they are here because they see a future in South Australia.