Business Entrepreneurs

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): Further supplementary: is it the government's policy to intimidate entrepreneurs who want to set up business here in South Australia?

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) (14:31): Nothing at all could be further from the truth. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I've said, I won't go into private conversations between individuals. What I will say, though, is that the Australian Cannabis Corporation—I think that is the company that this particular person is associated with—has had and continues to have constructive dialogue with the government. Either myself, my office or my department would have had somewhere in the order of a dozen discussions with that particular company and with a number of other companies and individuals who have an interest in this area.

The honourable member asks about our support for innovation and entrepreneurship. I am happy to tell him a lot about that. Just last year, this government made the biggest investment this state has ever seen in the area of innovation. Just last year, in last year's budget, $18 million of new money. This has blown up in the opposition leader's face again. That's why they only let him have the lead question once a week or so these days. It blows up in his face all the time.

We announced last year a $50 million state government backed venture capital fund. We announced a $10 million early stage commercialisation fund. We announced $7½ million to support the University of South Australia's Future Industries Institute. We are very proud of our record in this area. We have and we will continue to support innovation and entrepreneurship in this state.