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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-03-28 Daily Xml
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Gawler Business Development

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister please update the chamber on how the government is supporting innovation in Gawler?

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) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for a very good question, and I thank him for his ongoing interest in job creation, job retention, and innovation—and innovation is exactly what is happening in Gawler. Indeed, I know the Hon. John Dawkins, who has a great interest in all things innovative, asked me about this only recently, and I thank him for his advocacy and also the Mayor of Gawler for the advocacy that is shown for innovation in this area.

I know that while members opposite, like the Hon. John Dawkins, occasionally have flashes of innovation, the member for Light, Mr Tony Piccolo, has been a longstanding champion for innovation in Gawler. Tony Piccolo has been a massive advocate for this and the area. He is a longstanding champion. He is one of the best local members, believe me, everyone says so. No-one knows more about being a local member than the member for Light—the very good member for Light.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: He won preselection to run in that seat once. He won preselection to run in that seat. Not only has the member for Light, the great local member, been a strong supporter for fostering innovation in his local area, but he is consistently coming up with new and innovative ways to ensure that we are reminded of the needs of the constituents of the Gawler community. In this case, the member for Light worked with the Gawler Business Development Group and Business SA to develop a proposal to accelerate the growth in entrepreneurs, businesses and jobs in the Gawler region. We recognise the impact that things like the closure of the GM Holden plant at Elizabeth will have on the whole of South Australia, but northern Adelaide and areas like Gawler as well.

This pilot program will give a significant boost to innovation and entrepreneurship in the Gawler region. The Northern Entrepreneur Growth Program is made up of a number of different streams provided by Business SA and the Gawler Business Development Group. These programs are designed to ensure that these entrepreneurs have the skills they need to give their ideas the best possible shot at success.

Business SA is delivering the Northern Entrepreneur Scheme and Northern Business Coaching. These two programs provide support and advice to help grow and develop businesses. Perhaps most importantly, they provide one-on-one mentoring for entrepreneurs. While the formal mentoring program only lasts 12 months, I suspect that, as with many of these programs, in time many long-lasting business and mentoring relationships will be developed.

The Gawler Business Development Group is providing start-up support to help entrepreneurs get off on the right foot, but equally importantly, helping established entrepreneurs take the next steps to grow their businesses and increase their profits. In addition to the skills developed through those participating in the programs, the added value of developing business relationships with other entrepreneurs and established businesses cannot be underestimated. I am confident that the pilot programs included under the Northern Entrepreneur Growth Program are going to deliver excellent results for the region.

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