Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Port Augusta PORT AUGUSTA The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council PORT AUGUSTA The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:14): As a supplementary question: if Port Augusta is such an important place, why has the minister closed that very important office for the north that used to be manned by Justin Jarvis, heading into the last state election? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business PORT AUGUSTA The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:15): The office for the north does not have anything to do with the land planning strategy for Port Augusta. I answered that question some two years ago when I indicated that the government would be focusing its efforts in the north on other bodies. The office for the north served a very important job in its time, but now, through other agencies, particularly through the increased resources that we are providing to the development boards in the region, we are seeing unprecedented growth in that part of the state—and long may it continue. Fortunately, we have some very good people in the Public Service who are working for the good of all South Australians in those areas. It is encouraging to think that we have people who are prepared to work in the more remote areas of our state to effectively advance the development of their regions.