Space Industry

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:11): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Did the Deputy Premier recently meet with the federal Minister for Industry and Science? If so, did she secure a reversal of the federal government's cuts to our space industry?

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order from the member for West Torrens. I anticipate 97.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir, standing order 97: debate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold the point of order. I am going to give the member for Morphett the opportunity to recast the question.

Mr PATTERSON: Thank you. My question is still to the Deputy Premier. Did the Deputy Premier recently meet with the federal Minister for Industry and Science? If so, did the meeting result in any outcomes for the South Australian space industry? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: Labor's recent federal budget cut nearly $80 million from the space industry, leaving South Australian space companies anxious about their future and about Labor's commitment to supporting them.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:12): Yes, indeed, I did have a meeting with Ed Husic, the federal minister, and discussed with him our very serious concerns about the cuts that exist in the current federal budget against the space program, noting that not all of that money is indeed a cut to the overall federal budget. It is about a reprioritisation into advanced manufacturing, which is also of significant advantage to South Australia.

The nature of the cuts is still being determined to a large degree by the minister. There is the cancellation of the Moon to Mars mission, the involvement that Australia was playing in that, and then beyond that the savings or the reduction in expenditure on space are being determined at present. It was a very good opportunity for me to put to Mr Husic the reasons why the South Australian space industry is particularly significant. He gave a guarantee, of course, that discussions will continue and ways in which we can work further together will continue.

He also guaranteed that the Australian Space Agency will be staying in South Australia, which is significant because in large part that decision came off the back of the international congress that was held in South Australia in 2017. That congress will be held in New South Wales in the next couple of years and therefore there has always been a concern that New South Wales would use that as a bid to try to have the Space Agency moved. Mr Husic has given a guarantee that that will not take place.

Further to that, we continue to discuss the importance of the space industry to South Australia and the ways in which we can continue to work together, but at no point do I resile from a criticism of the federal government for making that decision. Unlike the previous government, which acquiesced, capitulated, rolled over every time the Morrison government made a difficult decision—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Chaffey! Member for Morialta on a point of order under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the minister is debating.

The SPEAKER: I have the question. The Deputy Premier, of course, is permitted to introduce some context. It may be that that context has now been introduced and we will bring the Deputy Premier to the question.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Unlike the previous government—and, indeed, when the Liberals were previously in opposition and Joe Hockey made the decision to cancel the car industry and not a word was said, not one word was said, unlike that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Hear, hear! You supported—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Hammond!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: —the destruction of an industry.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Deputy Premier, there is a point of order from the member for Morialta, which I will hear under 134.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens! The member for Morialta has the call.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: having drawn the minister back to the question, the minister continued in the same vein and is debating.

The SPEAKER: There is some force in the member for Morialta's submission. I will listen carefully. I remind the Deputy Premier of the terms of standing order 98.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Unlike their attitude on the River Murray, which was utter acquiescence to every decision made—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: I anticipate 98 from the member for Morialta.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Sir, the disrespect she shows to you amounts to obstruction—at the very least, standing order 98.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There are limited restrictions on the nature and scope of questions or the content that can be introduced by way of answer to questions that have been asked in the house.

Mr Pederick interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hammond!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! However, one of those limitations is standing order 98, and I emphasise its terms to the Deputy Premier.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The question asked what outcomes occurred as a result of that meeting. One of those outcomes was that I was very clear about our criticism of the government in the decision that it made, and that stands in contrast to others.