Question Time

Canberra Press Gallery Midwinter Ball

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier think that it is more important to attend a black tie gala in Canberra than to attend the South Australian parliament? With your leave sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Today, it was reported in The Advertiser that, and I quote:

…Peter Malinauskas has flown out of the state while parliament was sitting to attend the Canberra press gallery's glamorous fundraising ball.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:03): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question because it presents an opportunity to reflect on the size of the opportunity that is coming the state's way as a consequence of the commonwealth's unprecedented investment in military infrastructure in our country at this time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley! Member for Schubert! The Premier has the call.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: As the members of the opposition are well aware, the commonwealth is about to embark on an over $100 billion program on the procurement of the most complex machines in the history of humanity, in effect. That presents not just a major opportunity in terms of work and investment in the state; it actually presents a very substantial opportunity to dramatically increase the economic complexity of our industry and skill base here in this state.

It is absolutely essential that at every opportunity either I get or members of my government get to be able to engage with the commonwealth on the delivery of that program we grab it. It is not just about that program. There are active discussions between both the state government and the federal government that directly go through Minister Marles' office.

I was very grateful for the opportunity to be invited by the Deputy Prime Minister and the defence minister to spend some time with him yesterday afternoon and yesterday evening. It was a welcome opportunity to grab. Of course, it was an opportunity that was always going to be in full public view. No particular kudos to the opposition for establishing something that was well and truly on the public record. I was very grateful for the opportunity.

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Just so the opposition is completely clear about this, please rest assured that any time I get the opportunity to be able to bend the ear and get the time of the Deputy Prime Minister and the defence minister I am going to grab it. I am going to grab that opportunity every single time because we are not going to let this one go through to the keeper. The size of the moment and the breadth of the challenge are not lost on us. One of the critical engagements that we have sought to undertake with the commonwealth—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —over recent months goes to the fact that unbelievably—and I was genuinely surprised to learn this coming into government—currently there is no comprehensive strategy or plan for the procurement or development of the skills and the workforce that is going to be required to deliver the nation's naval shipbuilding program. Neither at a state level or a federal level do we have that—

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —comprehensive plan. So I went to the Jobs and Skills Summit—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta, order! The member for Morphett is warned. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I went to the Jobs and Skills Summit last week with a very clear objective to make sure that we establish a task force—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the Minister for Police!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —to actually deliver that comprehensive plan. I am very grateful for the fact that we got the commonwealth to commit to that, a joint task force to actually deliver a plan.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Finniss!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: It was unfortunate, unfortunate from my perspective, that I actually didn't get the opportunity to spend time—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —with the Deputy Prime Minister last week because he was in fact in France.

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: So I took the opportunity to grab that moment in time this week and I would do it again.