MAST 2024 Conference

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Leader of the Government in this place about the MAST 2024 Conference.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: On 22 November 2024, the ABC reported that attendees of the MAST 2024 Conference held in Adelaide from 19 to 21 November described the event as 'an utter embarrassment and total [!!!]show' that reminded them of the failed Fyre Festival. The ABC reported that defence industry figures claimed that organisers of the MAST 2024 Conference greatly exaggerated participant numbers and that there did not appear to be anyone from the Australian defence department there in an official capacity.

The government's press release dated 10 February 2023 crowed that the conference would draw thousands of senior level government, military representatives and researchers from across the global defence community, and that high-calibre plenary speakers, technical sessions and exhibits would help foster business opportunities for South Australian companies. However, attendees said:

Despite claiming there would be dozens of exhibiters [sic] at MAST, there was only a handful of stands, and none of the defence officials the organisers said would be here turned up.

My questions to the Leader of the Government are:

1. How much funding did the Labor government provide to Maritime, Air Systems and Technologies to stage a conference in Adelaide?

2. Does the government believe it got a good return on its investment?

3. Why did the Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries and the CEO of Defence SA plan a visit to the UK at the same time as the conference in Adelaide if it was such an important drawcard for our state's defence industry?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for her question. In relation to attraction for events, including conferences, they are generally commercial-in-confidence with arrangements, as happened under the former government, so that we can maintain our competitive advantage and edge in attracting conferences.

In relation to the Treasurer's attendance, I am aware that the Treasurer was in the UK doing a whole lot of things and, amongst other things, talking to global credit rating agencies and other companies. I think he visited areas that could possibly influence the nuclear submarine program that we will be seeing in South Australia. In relation to costings, I will check to see if there is a figure that I can bring back but if it is commercial-in-confidence I won't be able to.