Innovation Voucher Program

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (14:52): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Automotive Transformation a question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN: I have previously asked the minister some questions regarding the Frost and Sullivan review of the government's grants program. Yesterday, the minister indicated that the review conducted was at an early stage and that the government was continuing to assess how the grants programs were performing. I ask the minister to advise the chamber who is conducting these current assessments? Is it independent or within the department? What is the methodology of the review or assessments, including the key performance indicators used to make the assessment of the business's performance, having received a grant?

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) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his questions. They are excellent questions and he again demonstrates why he is on a fast track to be leader of the Liberals in this chamber. They are remarkably incisive and well put questions, in complete contrast to the soft serve that we have been dished up from the current Leader of the Opposition, whose lead question yesterday was, 'What have you seen on TV lately?' and 'Do you have a phone at home?' That was the lead question yesterday. This is why the Hon. Andrew McLachlan is fast becoming so very respected.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: His questions aren't about, 'What did you see on TV last night?' They are exceptionally good and well thought out questions. I know the honourable member referred to page 14 of the Frost and Sullivan report. He was very specific and I thank him for giving such detail in his questions that enable me to take them away and formulate a sensible answer to a sensible question. As I said to his question yesterday in terms of ongoing reviews of all government programs, I am happy to take the question away and bring back an answer. I know we always look to make sure our programs are as effective as possible and that we are using taxpayers' money as well as we can in supporting industry in South Australia.

In terms of the review of things like the Business Transformation Vouchers and other things that the Frost and Sullivan report pointed out had been so successful in their early stage, I am happy to take the question on notice about any KPIs that are being used to look at any current reviews on such programs. Good question.