Accenture

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (15:41): I rise today to speak about Accenture and the game-changing contribution it will make to South Australia. I was pleased to play my part in helping attract Accenture to South Australia. It is another announcement that demonstrates the Marshall Liberal government's commitment to attracting industries that will provide jobs not only now but well into the future.

Accenture is a Fortune 500, multinational company that operates in over 120 countries. With nearly 500,000 employees, Accenture has a huge breadth of experience and a track record of delivery across the digital, consulting and technology industries. It has nearly 5,000 employees in Australia and is recognised as the leading implementation partner for many tech companies around the world.

South Australia needs jobs that rebuild our economy. With the changes that COVID-19 has brought it is important that we get young people back into work, and the government's attraction of Accenture will be vital in getting young people into jobs. These are not just any jobs either: Accenture will provide highly paid, highly skilled careers for students, graduates and anyone looking to move into the digital and tech industries.

This government is not content just preserving the jobs we have, it is striving to create jobs and drive long-term investment that will transform our state and make South Australia the choice for people seeking a rewarding career along with all the lifestyle advantages Adelaide and its surrounds have to offer. It is also an important announcement that helps put South Australia on the map in the minds of people like Peter Verwer, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Global Business and Talent Attraction.

I congratulate the Prime Minister on an outstanding appointment in Mr Verwer. As a former chief executive of the Property Council of Australia and executive chairman of Fractal IQ, a start-up think tank for trends in the digital economy, he is at the forefront of the industries South Australia is seeking to attract. People like Mr Verwer are working tirelessly to make Australia a smarter country, with opportunities for people to build fulfilling and successful careers within a strong and robust economy.

Australia is an attractive investment destination with our safety, rule of law and high-quality labour force. It is imperative that South Australia be front of mind when companies consider Australia as their investment destination. Announcements like this one help cement our reputation nationally and across the globe as an investment destination of choice, and bolster our state's high-tech reputation. Accenture will need a broad range of technical specialists across three key areas:

advanced technology, including systems engineering, cloud computing and digital marketing;

intelligent operations, including robotics, artificial intelligence and data analytics; and

cybersecurity, which includes security engineers, postgraduates, managers and executives.

Accenture's Adelaide hub will be located at Lot Fourteen. It is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs by 2024 and by that point will inject more than a billion dollars into the South Australian economy. Joining other future-driven companies and agencies, including the Australian Space Agency, the MIT Living Lab and the Australian Institute of Machine Learning, Accenture will add a lot to Lot Fourteen's worldwide standing as an innovation centre of excellence.

Accenture has a particular focus on equality and diversity, which it harnesses to foster innovation in its workforce and allow people to perform at their best. Its innovative approaches, including hiring veterans, people returning to the workforce, people with special needs and aptitudes, and workers requiring flexible arrangements, give it a greater diversity of thought and experience. This investment demonstrates the huge lift in business confidence and an economic boost for South Australia as we come through the COVID-19 pandemic, and I commend the government on this excellent partnership for South Australia.

I would also like to express my thanks to a number of people in the team that attracted Accenture to South Australia. They include, from the Department for Trade and Investment, the chief executive, Ms Leonie Muldoon; the deputy chief executive, Megan Antcliff; Gavin Artz; and Mark Wadewitz, to name but a few from the Department for Trade and Investment's team. From my former ministerial office, I would like to thank for their support and congratulate my former Chief of Staff, Andrew Ockenden, my media adviser, Kathryn McFarlane, and my very hardworking adviser, Rowan Thomas.