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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-20 Daily Xml
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INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister please advise the house on how local infrastructure projects are supporting South Australian industries?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:23): I thank the member for her question. This Labor government is pro-development and pro-jobs. We understand the importance—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Point of order. Earlier in question time, you ruled the opposition couldn't address the government as 'Labor', and the minister is now doing exactly the same thing.

The SPEAKER: The answer to that, member for Davenport, is that it may be included as an adjective before government or opposition. We can be 'the Labor government' or 'the Liberal opposition'. What you cannot do is refer to the government solely by the name of a registered political party. Minister for Transport.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. This Labor government is pro-development and pro-jobs. We understand the importance of such projects in not only delivering world class facilities, but also creating jobs in our economy. That's why we have invested $9.3 billion on infrastructure spending. This is not only building important socioeconomic infrastructure but also supporting local manufacturing and engineering firms.

In the past week we have witnessed these benefits firsthand. Just this morning the Premier and I, as I said earlier in question time, were at the Convention Centre expansion, where the most challenging stage of the project was just being completed. It involved placing 1,700 tonnes of structural steel framing metres above Adelaide's busiest railway station. The aspect of this is that South Australian firms are solving these problems and providing world-class solutions. In fact, I am advised that local firms are doing 95 per cent of contracts with the Adelaide Convention Centre by value, and this is a similar situation across our other infrastructure programs.

I am advised that 47 of the 51 subcontracts let to date for the Adelaide Oval project are going to local South Australian firms. Just last week in my electorate I visited another South Australian firm, Manuele Engineering. With the Minister for Manufacturing, Tom Kenyon, I toured the factory, which happens to be in the electorate of West Torrens. We were able to see firsthand the prefabrication work that is going on to construct Adelaide Oval's new southern stand. Fantastic work is being done by local South Australian workers and a local South Australian firm.

Thanks to this Labor government, the infrastructure spend that I saw happening at Manuele's is actually being replicated across the state. It is vital work not only because it provides cash flow, certainty and employment for thousands of workers across the state, but it also enables skills and expertise that can be used to win contracts around the nation and, potentially, overseas. If members opposite don't believe me, maybe they should listen to the businesses themselves. Vince Manuele, Managing Director of Manuele Engineers Pty Ltd, said this to the press gathered at his firm:

There is no doubt that securing this work has been crucial to our company's future and will hold us in good stead to continue growing and competing on the national stage.

The Leader of the Opposition believes this isn't real and it's only a false economy. It is fine when the Leader of the Opposition's firm, Marshall Furniture, wins contracts at the Adelaide Convention Centre–that's okay. When other companies do it, they call it a false economy. So, if you benefit, it's okay; when anyone else benefits, it's a false economy.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Is there a point of order?

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Debate, Mr Speaker. The minister is straying well into debate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold the point of order. I trust the minister has finished. The Leader of the Opposition.

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