PROJECT COORDINATION BOARD

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:12): I thought the Hon. Mr Holloway was going to answer the question. Maybe he does not have an answer.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure a question about the Project Coordination Board.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: On Monday 16 July 2007—almost two years ago—cabinet approved the establishment of a board, under the Economic Development Act, which is known as the Project Coordination Board. Cabinet and others were told that the board would have broad powers under the act to step in and adopt the approval powers of other agencies in relation to projects for the expansion or development of an industry. Cabinet also approved that the board would report to minister Conlon (the Minister for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure), and cabinet agreed that Mr Jim Hallion, Chief Executive of DTEI, would chair the Project Coordination Board.

There have been a number of statements on it. In one document Mr Hallion indicated that the board would be subject to annual review of its performance. The document states:

Jim Hallion said the board is off to a good start: With the range and pace of development expected in South Australia over the coming decade, the state can't afford to see proposals bogged down in lengthy approval processes. The board will play a vital role in shifting barriers and unblocking deadlocks to get developments started and keep them moving to completion.

My questions are:

1. In the two years since the establishment of the Project Coordination Board, what work has the board accomplished and, in particular, what projects have been coordinated by the Project Coordination Board in the way that the original cabinet submission outlined?

2. What have been the total costs of the establishment and the ongoing operation of the board, and are there any staffing costs in relation to the board?

3. Was the annual review undertaken after the first year of operation of the Project Coordination Board and, if so, who conducted the annual review of its activities and what were the results of that review? If that review was not conducted as it was promised, why wasn't the annual review conducted of the activities of the Project Coordination Board?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:15): I thank the Hon. Mr Lucas for his question. I will refer it to the Minister for Infrastructure and bring back a response.