Mining Employment

In reply to the Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (17 June 2015).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers): I have been advised—

1. In August 2014 the government announced its 10 economic priorities, which included unlocking our resources, energy and renewables. A number of targets have been set to achieve this priority, including the creation of 5,000 additional mineral and energy resources jobs between 2013 and 2017.

2. This was derived from an aspirational target of increasing the value of production from $7.0 to $10.0 billion over this period, which was reflective of the resource potential of the state, as well as the resource projects underway or in the pipeline.

According to ABS data, since the base year of the target of 2013 there are 1,300 more people employed in the mining industry in South Australia.