Giles Electorate

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (15:26): I am more than aware that this is the penultimate week of this parliament and that I might not get the opportunity to do a grievance next week—no, I am not going to announce my retirement, I am going again—but it is an opportune time to reflect on some of the things that have been achieved in my electorate. I cannot go past the major one which was the unprecedented intervention in order to rescue the steelworks and the mining operations in Whyalla. It was a massive circuit breaker for my community which was facing an incredibly challenging time, both workers at the mine sites and at the steelworks and many of the local contractors who had built up businesses over many years—they have family businesses in many cases—facing going to the wall.

So that intervention, both the unprecedented legislative intervention and the package that was delivered, was a godsend. The $2.3 billion package to support administration, to put money on the table for a potential new owner or consortia, to look after the contractors was incredibly warmly welcomed.

Just recently I attended the annual business and tourism awards in Whyalla and the Premier attended. I think he was struck by the turnaround, by the buoyancy in the room. It was a sell-out audience and the mood, compared to a year previously, was incredibly positive. It left a real mark. People recognise what has been done through this parliament and in partnership with the federal government to do the right thing by the Whyalla community.

Of course, we did more incredibly good stuff in other parts of the electorate. In Port Augusta, it was great to see the opening of the Port Augusta Technical College, a real plus for the Port Augusta community. We all know the importance of vocational education, especially in my part of the world. The technical college itself is yet another element that helps build Port Augusta as a service hub for the region.

Given that the technical college has accommodation, students have been attracted from around not just my electorate but electorates further afield. The member for Narrunga would be interested to hear that students from Kadina are coming up to the technical college in Port Augusta and doing a block of work there, so that is an incredibly positive thing for Port Augusta.

We provided $3 million in funding for the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, something that is unique to Port Augusta and something that is deserving of support. There is a fantastic volunteer group up there that does an amazing amount of work. The Port Augusta council is also one of the major supporters of the Arid Lands Botanic Garden. For people who have not been to that facility, I would encourage you to go; it does a lot of really good stuff.

At long last, we have seen the wharf refurbishment at Port Augusta. I think it is out to tender, but that tender might have now concluded. Once again, that is a partnership between the state government and the federal government to do a body of work that has been neglected for too long. We will see the revitalisation of that important wharf, both from a historic perspective and from the perspective of the central business district in Port Augusta. To see that come back to life would be a great thing.

Also in Port Augusta is the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the multidisciplinary hub that has been created there—a fantastic initiative by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. I am proud that we as a government have contributed $1 million. There is so much more to say, but maybe I will get another grievance and finish it next sitting week.