Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Regional Employment Regional Employment The Hon. J.S. LEE Legislative Council Regional Employment The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment a question about regional employment. Leave granted. The Hon. J.S. LEE Legislative Council The Hon. J.S. LEE: Around Australia the ABS reported that all states and territories experienced population growth between 2015 and 2016. Victoria and New South Wales had the greatest growth, with an increase of over 100,000 people, and the growth also applied in the regional areas of New South Wales, with some 22,788 people, and Victoria, with some 15,000 people. However, this is not the case in South Australia. The stats show that South Australia's regional population fell by 109 people. Depopulation of regional areas is a grave concern to local communities and their future livelihoods. My question to the minister is: how does the government plan to grow regional populations in order to increase economic activity that will provide the jobs that our regional populations desperately need? The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy 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) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for her question, and it is a good opportunity to talk about a couple of initiatives that other ministers have in their portfolios that are providing jobs and opportunities in regional areas and attracting industry. I know that my very good friend, the Independent Liberal member for the state seat of Waite, who is a great advocate for this state, for South Australia, and a minister in government, through his Investment Attraction Agency has attracted investment in a number of areas that are benefiting regional South Australia, particularly in the primary production areas. I know that another fantastic minister, who directly represents regional areas, minister Brock, the member for Frome, is a fantastic local member. Believe me, everyone says so. He is a fantastic local member and through his regional development fund there are millions and millions of dollars more investment in industries in regional South Australia, providing hundreds and hundreds more jobs. Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ngo. Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ngo has the floor. Will both leaders please desist?