Overseas Investment

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): Further supplementary: given that the minister is unable to outline one single job that has been created—one single job—can the minister outline what specific attributes he thinks makes him the best person in parliament to lead these portfolios?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:32): Mr President, that is a strange sort of question. It is a great honour and privilege to be the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment in the Marshall government, and in fact it is a great honour and privilege to be a cabinet minister. I am sure there is a range of people who could do the job that I am doing. I am delighted that I have the opportunity to do it. And we have an exceptional team in the Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment who support me.

I highlighted some months ago that I think my capacity to develop some relationships with overseas clients is a great attribute. What I tried to demonstrate some months ago was that it is not just about turning up with 200 businesses, as did the former minister and very good friend of these people opposite, the Hon. Martin Hamilton-Smith, who would come into town with this great caravan of activity, hundred of thousands of dollars. This is about repeat visits, this is about building relationships.

We have nine key sectors that we are trying to build on; we want to tell the world about those key sectors. Because of the behaviour of the previous government, most of the world do not even know South Australia exists. So what I bring to the role is a person who is honourable and honest, a repeat visitor who actually builds some relationships and some trust, and we then get people and tourists to come to South Australia and invest and to grow our state's economy.