Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

A Labor government would have saved it. But I do not propose to redebate those issues or, for that matter, to give the minister an excuse to give us the lecture about industry assistance only to be followed by government backbenchers asking for grants or tax exemptions for particular industries. It is an interesting approach that the government takes.

What I am concerned about, and this is a genuine concern, is the $155-million growth fund. I am concerned about its adequacy. Another of the things I am concerned about is obviously the closure of Holden components industry will devastate the northern suburbs of Adelaide, and Elizabeth in particular. I am interested to know if the minister, his office or his department have had discussions with the local councils of the City of Playford or the City of Salisbury. In particular, have they had any discussions about local projects like the City of Playford's sports precinct, which is interrelated with the proposal to have a health precinct at Lyell McEwin Hospital? Both these local projects would produce jobs for the local area.

When Holden closes, I am concerned we will have an empty site sitting down there on Philip Highway and it may well be empty for some time. I would be interested to know if the minister is having discussions with General Motors Holden about that site, about its future. I would also be interested to know if the minister has formed a committee with unions, local industry, Holden, the South Australian government and the federal department—as was done with Bridgestone—to help manage the process of skills acquisition of employees being made redundant at General Motors Holden or any of the component companies that supply it and to push job service agencies to get jobs for those redundant employees. It was a very important thing when Bridgestone closed. I would be interested to hear the minister's thoughts about that.

Most of my concerns are of a local nature. We can debate the events last year. I can tell you the effect of them will be catastrophic in my community. I really genuinely would like to hear the minister's thoughts about how my local community can be assisted out of this $155-million growth fund. I do not think it is adequate and I have great fears that the money will be spent in places other than the northern suburbs of Adelaide, in places other than the communities affected.

Mr Zappia interjecting—

My colleague, the member for Makin, inquires how much will be actually allocated to South Australia. They are my concerns and I would be interested to hear by the minister's thoughts on them.

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