Employment and jobs growth for the Northern economic plan

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing
a question to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills regarding the Northern
Economic Plan.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing
a question to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills regarding the Northern
Economic Plan.
Leave granted.
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Despite the Northern Economic Plan being launched in January
last year, northern Adelaide continues to lag behind the rest of the state in employment and jobs
growth. Honourable members may recall that last week, in response to a question to him about how
many jobs had been created by the Northern Economic Plan, the minister's technical answer was,
and I quote, 'Lots.' My questions for the minister are:
1. Does he stand by the figures which are in the Look North document?
2. Given the benefit of one week, will the minister update on the actual number of jobs
that have been created, rather than just simply saying, 'Lots'?
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) (14:25): I thank the honourable
member for her questions and her interest in these matters generally. I am pleased to be able to
report to the chamber that, in the year to the December quarter 2016, 2,800 more northern Adelaide
residents became employed; furthermore, an estimated 2,556 jobs are projected to be created from
Northern Economic Plan projects currently underway.
The NDIS is forecast to create just under 2,000 jobs in northern Adelaide, and the Northern
Adelaide Irrigation Scheme is estimated to create almost an additional 4,000 jobs in and around
Adelaide's northern suburbs. So, there are a range of projects—a range of things—that the Northern
Economic Plan has a watching brief over that are creating jobs, and, as I have said, in the year to
the December quarter 2016, 2,800 more northern Adelaide residents became employed.
NORTHERN ECONOMIC PLAN
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:26): On a supplementary question: does the minister stand
by the figures which were in Look North, including the value of the investment?
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) (14:27): I am not quite sure I
understand the question, but if the question is: do we stand by the Northern Economic Plan and the
$24 million the state government is investing to create economic activity and to create more jobs,
absolutely we stand by that investment for the north. I know there has been criticism from some of
the honourable member's colleagues—that we should not be spending that much money in the
north—but absolutely we stand by making that investment in companies and in the people of the
north.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:27): Sorry, the minister didn't quite understand what I was
talking about, which was new investment worth $247 million.
The Hon. K.J. Maher: What is the question?
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Business investment is quoted in that document. Perhaps the
minister needs to go and consult his documentation that he has produced, that has his name on it,
etc., and maybe some of his media releases.
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) (14:28): I am happy to have a
look at the document to try to relieve some of the honourable member's confusion for her.