House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-05-21 Daily Xml

Contents

Member for Frome, Government Agreement

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): Supplementary to the Minister for Regional Development: was he aware that the member for Fisher was offered this department, yet the minister wasn't given this offer?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (14:41): Thank you very much to the leader. As I mentioned, this agreement I struck with the Premier is known and has already been tabled in this house. The agreement is a great agreement and is a particularly good one not just for the regions but also for all South Australians. It reflects what I want to achieve for the regions and the people of regional South Australia. It provides stable government and certainty over the next four years.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned a first time.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: This could not be more evident than last Friday. As the Premier has indicated, last Friday we made the announcement for Nyrstar—the half a billion dollar project investment into Port Pirie and the region, and also to the benefit of South Australia. This agreement also provides for ministers to visit regional South Australia on a weekly basis. This has already started and it is being warmly received by commitments and communities out there that I have already visited.

The agreement also provides for three cabinet meetings a year to be held in regional South Australia. I have already travelled to many towns, and many of the members on the other side have seen me out there in those regions, including all the key stakeholders. I have held discussions with many individuals, local councils, RDAs, other community organisations, small businesses and also the local state parliamentary members.

To the best of my knowledge, the initial letters the Premier wrote to myself and the member for Fisher immediately after the election are basically the same; there is no significant difference. I would also remind others that the member for Fisher and I were together in the initial stages of the post-election negotiations with the Premier until the member for Fisher was unable to proceed due to his illness. The member for Fisher's major concerns were a charter for small business and also for electoral reform. These are encompassed in the final agreement that I have reached with the Premier.

I am comfortable with the final outcome of negotiations and am very honoured to hold the position of Minister for Regional Development and also Minister for Local Government. The main outcome of my agreement with the Premier is the certainty and the stability it provides for all South Australians over the next four years and, if it was not signed, we may not be here today focusing on the future directions of this state.

Members interjecting:

Mr MARSHALL: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: Before you proceed to the supplementary, I warn the member for Morphett for the second and final time and I warn the member for Hartley for the first time. The leader.