Yorke and Mid North Planning Review Forum

I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question on the subject of the Port Pirie Planning Forum on Friday.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I ask the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question on the subject of the Port Pirie Planning Forum held on Friday.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I note that the minister said on ABC radio 639: I'm very excited about the potential here. We're hearing of the future planning for infrastructure, power, water, skills, our youth, so look when I go back to Cabinet and I go back to the various agencies these will be put on the table and further discussions will take place around these important issues.

My questions for the minister are:

1. What plans does he have for infrastructure in the region, and from which agencies and how will that be paid for?

2. What are his plans to stem the outflow of skilled young people from the region?

3. What water supply is he planning to secure for the region?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:35): I thank the member for her questions. I did attend the planning forum in Port Pirie on Friday. At that planning forum there were quite a number of reports which highlighted the various issues which the regions face, in particular with the future mining boom.

I made it quite clear that I did find quite exciting the potential for the region arising out of the mining boom and all the future discussions and planning that will be required with regard to future energy needs and water needs. These are all issues that were spoken about at the forum, and I made it quite clear that going to these forums does give me an opportunity, when these issues are discussed at cabinet, to have some understanding with regard to their importance. I do not know if the Hon. Ms Lensink is criticising me for actually listening—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: I'm just asking what your plans are.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The purpose of going to these meetings is to actually listen to what is happening out there, listen to the various reports and discuss issues with the various parties.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lensink has a supplementary question.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:36): I take it that the minister is not going to answer any of my questions, but is he going to confirm whether there is any funding on the table for any of these projects, or is he just paying lip service?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:37): I find that quite extraordinary. For a minister to go out to a region and listen to various reports and various issues that arise and are concerns out there and to be then basically accused of paying lip service, I find that quite bizarre. I actually enjoy going out to the regions. I actually do a lot of touring of the regions to find out what issues are important to them out there and, when cabinet does meet and we do discuss various issues of infrastructure, water power, our youth leaving the state, I have a much greater knowledge to be able to participate in those discussions.