Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-02-09 Daily Xml

Contents

Northern Economic Plan

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:38): Supplementary, Mr President: the $7 million the minister mentioned for, I think it was the food park, for renewable energy, is that an admission that the government is unable to attract tenants because of the high cost of electricity in South Australia?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:38): No, not at all. It is an admission that we think this is going to be critically important .We know that for 17 years, year on year, food and beverage manufacturing has grown in this state. All of our feedback and all the forecast estimates look at this as being an area of future growth and future employment, and it is recognition that as a government we are looking to support those areas that have the capacity to grow and the capacity to provide jobs.