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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-19 Daily Xml
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MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee) (15:34): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Can the minister inform the house how mineral and petroleum exploration is tracking in South Australia?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:34): I thank the member for Lee for his question, and I can inform him; yes, I can. I am pleased to inform the house that the state's resources sector—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —yes, we can—continues to go from strength to strength, a sector that has seen significant growth over the last decades through the hard work of industry, a diligent Public Service and the supportive policies of this Labor government. Growth in this sector is a perfect example of government partnering with a sector to drive economic growth across this state.

As we began the new year, South Australia saw a record number of exploration licences, higher than the heights set before the global financial crisis, and now we see a record exploration spend. Mineral and petroleum exploration expenditure in South Australia has, for the first time, reached a record $602.6 million, a clear sign of the confidence of the global resources industry in the state of South Australia. Spending on minerals exploration in South Australia within the 12 months to December alone totalled $311.6 million. This is the fifth consecutive quarter in which the 12-month spend on mineral exploration in this state exceeded $300 million.

This government recognises that exploration in South Australia is a key element to ensure we continue to tap our full mineral potential, and that is why we partner with industry through our world-renowned PACE 2020 program. From these figures it is clear that South Australia remains an attractive destination for exploration spending. Demand for our state's rich resource wealth is at an all-time high, as our state's minerals fuel the growth in the emerging middle classes of China and India.

This government will continue to foster exploration. We recognise the role of government collaboration in fostering industry development. Our investment in pre-competitive data has seen the South Australian geological database consistently ranked number one for investment attraction. To keep ahead of the pack this government has allocated $2 million to fund new pre-competitive surveys designed to identify prospective areas within the Gawler Craton. It is an area that, I believe, will herald an era of world-class discoveries.

This is truly an exciting time to be involved in the resources sector in South Australia; a sector that is providing investment, a sector that is providing jobs, a sector that is creating a prosperous South Australia. It is a pity that the opposition would rather cut the public sector workers in DMITRE, the same public sector workers that support our economic growth.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: Point of order: 98, debate.

The SPEAKER: I think the minister has finished.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Much as I do not wish to brave the censure of the minister's mother, I warn him for the second time.

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