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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-31 Daily Xml
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ADELAIDE CITY WI-FI PROJECT

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:31): My question is directed to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Can the minister inform the house about the initiatives that encourage people who live, work or visit the City of Adelaide to use the new free wi-fi network service when it is up and running early in the new year?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:31): I thank the member for this question. Adelaide is a vibrant city, and this was recognised with Adelaide being named in the top 10 cities by Lonely Planet this week. Our laneways, such as Leigh, Bank and Peel streets, are coming alive with new small bars and restaurants, and the Riverbank Precinct is set to become a hub for entertainment, sport, culture and excitement. We are also investing in new hubs to bring our entrepreneurs together to spark further innovation and creativity.

Adelaide will be the first capital city in Australia to have comprehensive free wi-fi access in our city's public spaces. The state government is working very well together with the Adelaide City Council and Internode to deliver this fantastic new service. It means that people on the go in the central business district in places like the Adelaide Central Market and along the Riverbank Precinct will have free wireless access to the internet.

I am pleased to report that work is already well underway, and we expect most of the network to be rolled out across the CBD and parts of North Adelaide in time for the Mad March festival season next year. It also means that the thousands of visitors and locals enjoying our city can access news and share their views, images and short videos with friends and relatives locally and around the world.

I am delighted that the state government is investing $1 million into this project, with an additional $500,000 from the Adelaide City Council. This also creates a fantastic opportunity for innovative business, community services, government and our many creative small businesspeople to develop new ways of doing business or to provide information and services.

Today, I can announce the opening of the new Adelaide free wi-fi app development competition. This is a partnership between the state government, Adelaide City Council and Internode, and we are now inviting our best and brightest entrepreneurs to develop innovative mobile applications. We are asking innovators to create apps that are especially relevant to Adelaide and useful for visitors, locals and businesspeople who take advantage of our Adelaide free wi-fi service.

Together with the Adelaide City Council, we are offering up to $20,000 in cash prizes for innovative apps that will add value for Adelaide free wi-fi users. I am pleased that the Majoran Distillery, a creative not-for-profit hub in the city, will also provide the winners with a six-month membership and mentoring support. We know that South Australian app developers will embrace this competition. The South Australian chair of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association and CEO of the app development company Enable Solutions has said that he has no doubt that the benefits of free wi-fi will be substantial and that this competition is a great incentive for creative people to find new ways to solve current problems. I invite all creative people in South Australia to enter this competition.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Yes—not you, Tom Koutsantonis, Minister for Transport—and continue to build Adelaide as a vibrant city.

Mr WHETSTONE: Supplementary.

The SPEAKER: Before the supplementary, I call the minister to order for using the Christian and surname of the minister. Supplementary, member for Chaffey.

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