Space Sector

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:16): My question is again to the Minister for Defence and Space Industries. Has the government modelled the implications of the federal Labor government's savage cuts to the space sector for South Australia's space industry?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order from the Leader of Government Business, which I will hear under 134.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 97, sir: a question should not involve debate or argument.

The SPEAKER: Yes, standing order 97. I am going to give—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am going to give the member for Morphett the opportunity to recast the question without argument.

Mr PATTERSON: Has the government modelled the implications of the federal Labor government's cancellation of programs in the space sector for the South Australian space industry? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: It was reported yesterday that the space industry has concerns about the cuts to investment in Australia's space sector, including the cancellation of the $1.2 billion National Space Mission for Earth Observation.

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) (14:17): Yes, I share the space industry's concerns, and I deplore the cuts that the federal government has made in the space sector. In terms of direct impact on current programs, there is in fact very little directly in South Australia, which is fortunate but is not the full story.

While we anticipate that there will be some jobs that will be reduced at the Space Agency, which of course is based in South Australia, we also understand that they are likely to be shifted into other priority areas. We are yet to be informed fully whether there will be an overall reduction in the number of people or not.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Of course, there was the cancellation of programs that were yet to be commissioned, such as the satellites that were to be built. That said, it is a bad message for the space industry to have the federal government reduce its expenditure, something that I believe in the medium to long term will be affected by the fact that space is an inevitable and important part of the way in which we are going to be managing the information required to be a modern, functioning economy.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: It's interesting how people listen to the man but, as soon as the woman stands up, there's a little bit of this.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I can't even hear myself think. I am answering the question. I am not not answering the question, and yet I get this.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Hammond! Member for Chaffey! Member for Badcoe! Member for Elder! The Premier is called to order. Member for Chaffey, you are warned. The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: At the same time, I am pleased that the South Australian government has been able to not only reconfirm—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Mawson!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: —its commitment to expenditure in space but, in fact, to increase it. We are making sure that our efforts in supporting the space industry are recognised and will make a material difference. I think it is important that, while we acknowledge and recognise and, as I say, deplore cuts that have occurred at the federal level, and understand the implications for the way in which the international space industry might look at an investment, at the same time we mustn't overreact in a way that might in itself cause harm to the space industry in South Australia. It's really important that there has been a bipartisan support for the space industry that has existed for some time from, at the very least, when the international space congress—

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert!

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: —we have increased money. The international space congress was held here in South Australia and then, under the Marshall government, there was the winning of the Space Agency coming to South Australia, and a great deal of support for the space industry during those four years. I have been at pains in this new government to acknowledge the bipartisan nature of this, not least because it's so important that the space industry sees that this is something that South Australia is here for the long term to be involved with.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, order!