House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-06 Daily Xml

Contents

CITY OF ADELAIDE PLANNING

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister update the house about private investment in the city that has been unlocked since the government's planning reforms and if there are any other factors influencing this investment?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:20): Planning reforms in March of last year, being part of the government's vibrant city priority, have been instrumental in unlocking some $2 billion worth of potential investment for the city.

An honourable member: Billion?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Billion, yes; it starts with b. This demonstrates business confidence in South Australia's economy. It follows sustained public infrastructure investment in the city. By early to mid next year, the following will be built: the Adelaide Oval, the Riverbank bridge, the Convention Centre stage 1, and the South Australian—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Point of order. He needs to speak to the substance of the question, which was about private investment. I draw the Speaker's attention to the fact that the Adelaide Oval, the footbridge—

The SPEAKER: No, don't draw—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: —and the Convention Centre are all public investments.

The SPEAKER: No, you are just making an impromptu speech. It is not a point of order, and I call the member for Davenport to order. Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It might help the member for Davenport, but as I recall the honourable member's question to me it concluded with remarks something along these lines: 'and if there are any other factors'. Am I getting this right—'any other factors'?

The SPEAKER: It would be good if the Deputy Premier didn't debate the point of order.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes, very good. I was enumerating the other factors, Mr Speaker. They include the Adelaide Oval, the Riverbank bridge, the Convention Centre stage 1 redevelopment, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. By mid-2016, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital will be completed.

The state government is investing $9.3 billion in capital projects over the next four years. The government infrastructure investments and the government's planning reforms are supporting local jobs, local industry and the state economy. Private developers are also eager to invest money. The state government has been providing certainty and confidence to industry.

There is $2 billion worth in potential private investment, supporting local jobs and creating optimism for the construction industry, and it is changing the way people are seeing our city. In the CBD, there are 33 projects worth in excess of $10 million. The Development Assessment Commission has approved so far 10 projects to the value of $383 million, and being considered presently by them are five projects valued at $239 million.

The government is committed to this state and seeing it prosper. Public investment is supporting the private sector and leveraging further private investment. The government investment supports local jobs and supports the economy, and now the private sector is getting behind that too. Those opposite, who think that we should be slashing government investment, clearly do not have the same point of view.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, I think I know what it will be. I think the Deputy Premier has finished. Leader.