Northern Adelaide Food Park

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:36): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the Leader of the Government on the subject of the Northern Economic Plan.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: In October last year, the government first announced commitments to initiatives in the northern suburbs, including $2 million for the Food Park. In January of this year, the government announced additional funding, including additional funding of $7 million for the Food Park. At that time, minister Maher, the Premier and others promised the delivery of 15,000 new jobs from the Northern Economic Plan, part of which was going to be generated by the Food Park. My questions are:

1. Now, more than 12 months after the initial announcement and about 10 or 11 months after the second announcement in January of this year, can the minister confirm that no jobs have yet been created in the Food Park?

2. Can the minister confirm that no company has yet committed to move into the Food Park?

3. Can the minister indicate when he believes the first jobs will be created from the $9 million investment in the Food Park?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in things to do with the Northern Economic Plan. The progress and implementation of the Food Park, as I guess the honourable member knows from his Budget and Finance Committee deliberations, rests with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Very specific things about companies that are looking or moving into the Food Park, I am happy to take on notice.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I do understand they have been out of government a very, very long time. I think the Hon. Rob Lucas is the only member of the opposition in either house in the shadow ministry that has any experience whatsoever serving in government, if you don't count my good friend the Hon. Martin Hamilton-Smith—he had some time serving in government. Even the Hon. Rob Lucas has forgotten how government works, and how ministers are responsible for certain areas. I will certainly—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I will certainly take that on notice and find out exactly where the Food Park is up to with the responsible minister, but he does raise a good point about the thousands and thousands of jobs that have been—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no debate here. There is no debate; somebody has asked a question and the minister wants to answer it. Answer the question, minister.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The Hon. Rob Lucas does make a good point about the thousands and thousands of jobs that are being created in the north through projects like the Northern Connector, through the future naval defence shipbuilding that happened partly as a result of the fantastic work of people like the Hon. Martin Hamilton-Smith and the Premier of South Australia and the incessant pressure they put on the federal Liberal government who, make no mistake, were committed to having these ships built offshore wholly in Japan until the campaign forced them to do otherwise.