REGIONAL BUSINESS

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development about concerns from the northern region business sector.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: During August 2013, the federal member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, visited the northern region of South Australia with my colleague the Hon. Terry Stephens and found that Roxby Downs has been going through a pretty tough patch and that the local traders have been feeling the tight time. In August, I also visited Coober Pedy and met with a number of local retailers and traders, and they are also experiencing tough business conditions. Chairman of the Coober Pedy Retail, Business and Tourism Association, Mr Robert Coro, indicated that the last 18 months have been very difficult. He stated on ABC News on 14 August:

We have the most expensive power prices thanks to the state government, we have the most expensive water rates thanks to the state government, we have the most expensive transport rates—how are we going to keep our prices down to the level which everyone expects us to?

My questions are:

1. When did the Minister for Regional Development last visit the northern regions of South Australia, particularly Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs?

2. What recent consultations has the minister had with the Minister for Small Business to address the concerns raised by residents and businesses located in the northern region?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for her Dorothy Dixer. I visit the regions regularly, and if the honourable member had bothered to listen in this place she would have known that quite recently I gave a report in this place on my recent visit to the north that included Andamooka, Roxby, Marree, William Creek and Oodnadatta. It was quite recent, so I can't believe the honourable member doesn't afford the courtesy to even listen in this place.

How embarrassing for the opposition to be coming here and asking me when I last visited, when it was only quite recently. It is such an embarrassment and I find it incredible that the honourable member would stand up straight in this place and talk about the price of power when it was, in fact, the former opposition government that privatised our power, which has contributed to the outrageous prices. What a short memory! There is obviously a real problem with the memories of those sitting opposite.

What an absolute embarrassment, too, because we see the brand-new Coalition federal government with no commitment to the regions at all. We see that there is no commitment to regional development funding, no commitment to the local roads funding which is critical to our region, no commitment yet to the farm financing that I have written to the minister urging them to sign, and no commitment to the Murray-Darling Basin funding buyback—it looks like there is going to be a backflip on that. All these things are in doubt.

A federal Liberal Coalition government—no commitment whatsoever to our regions. What a disgrace! Then they announce today, I think, that the regional development agency is going to be closed down. What commitment is that to regions? So, no department for regions; it is going to be absorbed into some other major super department. What a disgrace!

On a more positive note, and in terms of answering this question, I would like to talk about some of the contributions that this government has made to the north. Our Upper Spencer Gulf and outback fund has been put in place to help capture business from the expansion of the resources, energy and allied industries. Our Enterprise Zone Fund is aimed at capturing the benefits of growing industries to further strengthen the upper north and outback communities, including:

capitalising on opportunities that are focused on, but not limited to, the expansion of resource and energy sectors; and

providing access to organisations in the Upper Spencer Gulf for projects that make a major impact in the region by changing competitive advantages.

Just yesterday, I spoke in this place about a civil training program initiative fund and that I had made a grant from this fund to help train women in important skill areas. Other contributions include:

over $80,000 to the re-establishment of refuelling facilities at Leigh Creek;

$60,000 to support a mentor based in the Port Augusta area for Indigenous mining employees;

over $100,000 towards the provision of broadband services to towns in the Port Pirie region;

over $300,000 to Kelly Engineering for building infrastructure to support the expansion of facilities and the workforce at Booleroo and beyond;

$2 million to E&A Contractors towards costs associated with the purchase and installation of wind towers—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: See, they don't care about the regions. They are not interested at all in the regions. It's a disgrace. They have no interest in the regions, whatsoever—no interest and no commitment. We have also contributed:

over $400,000 to the City of Port Augusta towards upgrading the Port Augusta—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Ms Lee wishes to hear the answer to her question.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Well, she didn't listen to the answer to my last question, Mr President, otherwise she would have known that I have visited there quite recently. They don't listen because they are not interested at all. I will go on. We have contributed:

over $400,000 to the City of Port Augusta towards upgrading the Port Augusta Airport terminal facility, car parking and also the airstrip;

just under $200,000 to Cowell Electric Supply towards the purchase of equipment to undertake tension stringing of conductors, and other wiring, for high voltage powerlines;

around $600,000 for the City of Whyalla towards upgrading the Whyalla Airport terminal, the car parking area, pedestrian and other areas; and

over $40,000 to Port Pirie Aviation Fuel for the Port Pirie Aerodrome.

These are just some examples. I could go on and on.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! There are other honourable members who wish to ask some questions this week.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I am not debating with you, the Hon. Mr Ridgway. You will sit there—you have asked your question—and pay some respect to other honourable members in this chamber.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: You can see that they are not interested in content at all, Mr President. They are not interested in policy. The only policies they have are secret policies to cut jobs and undermine the welfare interests of South Australia.

We see what a Coalition government is all about. We see what their commitment is to regions. We see the new federal Coalition government come to power, and it has abandoned the regional development agency. There is still no commitment to regional development funding, still no commitment to local roads funding, still no commitment to the farm financing, and still no commitment to the Murray-Darling Basin funding buyback.

That is the sort of commitment we get from the Liberal opposition—none at all. They don't care about regions and they don't care about the outback. It is only a Labor government that really cares for the regions and our outback cousins.