CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC STUDIES

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about the issues paper released by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Reported on 14 January 2011 by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies was an issues paper, 'Rethinking the approach to regional development in South Australia'. The authors of the issues paper (Mr Michael O'Neil and Mr Cliff Walsh) argue that 'regional development in South Australia is an agenda without a policy framework or strategy'. Furthermore, on ABC radio on Friday 18 February, Mr Ian McSporran, Executive Officer of the Provincial Cities' Association, commented:

It is on the general issue of a policy or a structure of regional development in this state that I think we're very deficient.

He continued:

We are no further advanced now in 2011 [than] what we were in 1999 when the Association had to advocate for an inquiry into regional development within the State.

My questions are:

1. How is the government going to address the disappointment and lack of policy framework for regional development described in the issues paper from the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies?

2. In her media release dated 18 February 2011, and in her speech to the Local Government Association, the minister stated that she 'can be a driver, a connector, and a champion for regional areas'. Can the minister outline her policy and strategy on how the government can facilitate and support regional South Australia and how the minister proposes to be a champion for regional areas?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for her most important question and the opportunity to speak on this most important issue. First, I will start with the very impressive record that this government has in terms of supporting regional SA, and then I will go on to more specific things.

I am very pleased to tell the council that this government is committed to country South Australia, and this is not a new commitment. The first regional development minister in South Australia was Mike Rann in 1992. Prior to that, the Liberal government did not see fit to hold such positions.

The importance of regional communities to this government is demonstrated in a number of ways. First, a cabinet task force has been established to specifically focus on regional issues, and I am the chair of that task force. It has been set up to advantage the renewed focus of the commonwealth, and new money that has been provided through its initiatives, on regional Australia.

We need to make sure that South Australia is ready and prepared and in position to maximise the full advantage of accessing those federal funds. Its prime purpose is to maximise the current federal funding opportunities for our regional areas. We want to be in the best position to take advantage and make sure that we are following a strategic approach.

Here in South Australia, the promised federal infrastructure funding offers some great opportunities for our regions, but it also presents considerable challenges as the funds will be heavily contested, not only by regions within the state—so we have our intrastate contestability—but also by other states as well.

We need to make sure, as I said, that we are well positioned to maximise full advantage. It will require RDAs to work creatively and in a coordinated way. Further to this, we as a government are committed to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of regional communities, demonstrated through a number of initiatives.

The 2010-11 state budget—and I will only talk about that because I am mindful of the time, but I could go back much further—delivered significant targets in terms of investment in regional South Australia, and it certainly honours our election commitments in terms of making major investments in regional infrastructure and services. These initiatives include $29.9 million over two years to refurbish the Port Bonython jetty; $20 million over four years to establish the Riverland Sustainability Futures Fund; $12.8 million in 2010-11 to tackle plague locusts; $10.2 million over four years for the plan for accelerating exploration; $9.5 million for continued drought support for the River Murray; $8.1 million for the desalination plant in Hawker; $8 million over four years to expand the Rural Road Safety Program; $5.9 million to provide additional cancer services in country areas; $5 million towards a Port Augusta sports hub; and $2.5 million over two years for the Port Augusta regional roads plan.

There were other infrastructure improvements throughout the budget that related to hospitals, public housing, schools, rural roads, etc., but time does not permit me to go into that level of detail. Certainly, the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund and the Upper Spencer Gulf Enterprise Zone will be complemented by the continuing $3 million of RDIF funding. Of course, RDIF, as we know, is aimed at redressing the cost disadvantage faced by regional communities in building new infrastructure and provides valuable seed money for rural projects. I have already announced two new funding projects from this fund and there are more to come.

This government is about action. We are about actions. We stand by our record and our continuing commitment to regional South Australia. I could go on about regional plans but time does not permit. In terms of planning, we do have plans. We have regional plans in relation to the planning that our RDAs have done and the road maps that they are putting forward. They are regional plans and relate to identifying priorities for those regions' investments.

We have the planning and development regional plans. Most of those regional plans have now been signed off. They are comprehensive regional plans for each region throughout South Australia. All of regional South Australia is covered by those NRM regions. Again, they do intensive and extensive planning, as do our local councils. Again, there is extensive regional planning going on at the local council level right throughout regional South Australia. Time does not permit me to truly elaborate on the amazing commitment that this government has to regional South Australia, so I will leave it there for now.