International Students

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:13): Supplementary: why did the government create a new ministerial advisory committee for international education but abolish the advisory committee for investment attraction?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:13): They were doing two different roles. This is one that is across government that is around making sure we get the ecosystem right here to attract international students. As I said, I don't want to bore the chamber, but it is a very important economic contributor to our economy; it is $1.5 billion. There is development, there is tourism—all of the wonderful things that happen with international students, an opportunity to grow.

Investment attraction was a different kettle of fish. That was something that your very good friend Martin Hamilton-Smith, who was a minister for trade and investment, had a board that was chaired by Rob Chapman from the Crows. The government made a decision that we thought that structure was not working as well as it should and we thought the best way forward was to abolish the board. We made that very clear as an election commitment, and we did it on 1 July. There have been no hard feelings, no disappointment from board members. We are moving on, and we are still growing the South Australian economy and we will continue to grow it with the strategies that we will implement.