Space Sector

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:17): Supplementary arising from the answer: the minister referred to a conference—I think the Australian Space Forum—held recently. Can the minister outline what benefit the minister received from attending that conference?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:17): I thank the member for his question. On 30 September, at Australia's first joint Space Science and Space Industry Conference, incorporating the 8^th Space Forum—I didn't say I was attending: I was actually overseas on a trade mission.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: That's the cabinet government approach. The members opposite don't understand. I am informing the council of a wonderful space industry development and again they have to try to find fault and be negative. It's a great development.

My agency has been working with Tyvak over a long period of time to get the investment here. The fact that the agreement was also signed between Perigee and Southern Launch at that particular conference shows that we are a cabinet government focused on growing the South Australian economy and celebrating the success of having international companies invest in our great state.