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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-18 Daily Xml
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Plant Protein Industry

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the government honour the $65 million commitment made by the former Liberal government to ensure South Australia becomes a powerhouse in plant protein manufacturing? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: On 1 March 2022, it was announced that South Australia is set to be the home to the largest plant protein manufacturing capability in Australia thanks to a $113 million funding package from the Morrison government and a $65 million contribution from the former Marshall Liberal government. Overall, the plant protein manufacturing project is worth a total of $378 million.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:40): I thank the shadow minister for his question.

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hartley!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The answer to the shadow minister's question is, yes, we will be funding that project. Do you know why, Mr Speaker? Because on this side of the house we acknowledge that every now and then government has a role to play to drive investment in South Australia, otherwise known as picking winners—that was characterised by those opposite.

One might ask oneself the question: why was a government that sought to characterise itself as never picking winners willing to drive so much public sector investment in an industry?

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Unley!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: That is because—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders! Member for Schubert!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: That is because there is an acknowledgement on this side—

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens! The Treasurer is called to order. The Premier has the call. He has concluded his answer. The Premier retains the call.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, that is your third and final warning.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: On this side of the house, what we have is a party in government that is very capable of being guided by a set of principles and ideology that acknowledges that government working with industry can drive economic growth in South Australia. What we are not going to be is a government that seeks to espouse an ideology on one day and do something completely different the next.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Premier, there is a point of order. I will hear the point of order.

Mr GARDNER: The Premier's characterisation is clearly descending into debate. Standing order 98.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to the Premier. I have in mind your point of order. I am not going to rule on it for the moment.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What I was illuminating the house with is that on this side of the house we do believe that—

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —where—

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —opportunities present themselves for government to make active investments with private industry, in conjunction with the commonwealth, then that can be a worthwhile pursuit. In this instance, the government has formulated the judgement that in regard to the plant protein industry it is a worthwhile investment. We welcome the commonwealth's commitment. We will continue to honour our commitment as a government, and we certainly welcome private sector investment as well.

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