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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-19 Daily Xml
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FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:51): My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Can the minister please inform the house about the likely benefits of the research partnership between Flinders University and a Chinese company?

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Point of order. I believe the question is out of order; it is hypothetical—'the likely benefits'.

The SPEAKER: No, that is not the meaning of hypothetical. The member for Stuart. We have not had a point of order from you for a long time.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I believe the question is out of order because it contained argument. Standing order 97—'the likely benefits'.

The SPEAKER: 'The likely benefits or otherwise'.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I do not believe that is what the member said.

The SPEAKER: Perhaps the member would rephrase the question. The member for Mitchell.

Mr SIBBONS: Would you like me to rephrase the question, sir?

The SPEAKER: Would you, please?

Mr SIBBONS: Thank you, sir. Can the minister please inform the house about the likely benefits or other benefits—

Members interjecting:

Mr SIBBONS: —or otherwise—of a research partnership between Flinders University and a Chinese company?

The SPEAKER: I think that has clinched it. Minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:53): South Australian universities and research organisations have demonstrated time and time again the enormous economic potential that can flow from collaboration with industry. The Premier mentioned earlier Bio Innovation SA. That is a fantastic example of this very thing. If you speak to universities and researchers—and I was meeting just recently with the DVCs of research and the Premier's Science and Industry Council—they will tell you that one of the key challenges for our research community is transforming their knowledge and the fruits of their research into commercial opportunities.

I am very pleased that this state government is supporting this collaboration, this connection between industry and researchers, especially in our priority areas of advanced manufacturing and the development of premium food and wine, two priorities detailed in the economic statement. That is why last week I was very pleased to join Flinders University researchers and Chinese industry leaders from the Gather Great Ocean Group, a Chinese company, to launch a new lab at the Flinders University Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development. I was very pleased that this Chinese company has invested about $450,000 into this venture. This company is China's second largest that makes products from macroalgae, more commonly known as seaweed.

I am advised that seaweed is a fantastic natural resource. I am told that this research can potentially transform the bounty of our ocean into high-value products such as foods fortified with extra nutrients, medicinal compounds, cosmetics and environmentally-friendly agricultural chemicals.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Botox.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Botox, maybe. I don't know about Botox. The Flinders Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development undertakes research into macroalgae. There are tons and tons of kelp that wash up on our southern beaches like Beachport. Most importantly, this centre specialises in transforming their research into products and services. This is putting into practice commercialisation opportunities.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the director of the centre, Professor Wei Zhang, and his colleague, Professor Chris Franco, for their work in getting this project off the ground. I would also like to acknowledge our Chief Scientist actually, Professor Don Bursill, because he has been heavily involved in this project.

An honourable member: Hear, hear!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Hear, hear! I'd also like to acknowledge our friends and colleagues from China: Mr Shipeng Wu and Mr Charles Wu from the Gather Great Ocean Group. My Chinese is not so good. I look forward to receiving them in our great state into the future and I look forward to more fruits of this collaboration.

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