Ten ideas from South Australia’s top 50 influencers to boost the state
A new city. University mergers. Using our super. SA’s most influential people have created a list to improve the state’s prosperity and lifestyle – see the whole list here.
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A summit of South Australia’s most influential people has generate action plans to drive recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and advance the state’s position in the next five to 20 years.
Triggered by The Advertiser’s list of South Australia’s 50 Most Influential People published in February, the summit involved about 40 politicians, business leaders and other prominent locals.
Participants included senior federal politician Penny Wong, food identity Maggie Beer, Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor, Australian of the Year James Muecke, UniSA vice-chancellor David Lloyd, Adelaide Football Club chairman Rob Chapman, SA Film Corporation chief executive Kate Croser and the overseer of SA Health’s coronavirus operations, Margot Forster.
The summit was engineered by tycoon Sam Shahin, who in February challenged his counterparts on The Advertiser list to “put that ‘influence’ into action”.
University of Australia
Merge Adelaide’s three universities into one, to be called the University of Australia.
The aim is to attract economic activity and build the state’s intellectual capacity.
However, UniSA vice-chancellor and Committee for Adelaide chairman David Lloyd is urging that South Australia’s three public universities be folded into two as part of an extensive tertiary education overhaul to drive economic recovery.
“Two strong unis would be better for the state than three institutions which are still very, very good, but not as good as they could be,” Professor Lloyd said.
Grow the population
From 1.7 million people to three million within 20 years. Attract people by creating clean, green, low-cost environment.
Aim for favourable measurements compared to other states, including increased life expectancy and the lowest taxes.
Parlay Adelaide City Deal, inked in March, 2019, to make SA a Special Economic Zone. Funding from the city deal would be used for corporate tax incentives to attract businesses.
Free renewable energy
Within 20 years, build renewable-energy capacity to enable businesses and residents to have free power.
Use solar energy to power desalination plant to lower water prices and make supply more sustainable.
Put nuclear energy on the table again to accelerate supply capacity.
Access to cheap or free energy makes the state a highly attractive place to invest, work and live. This creates jobs and lowers living costs.
Low-cost energy underpinned the hugely successful industrialisation of South Australia spearheaded by long-serving premier Sir Thomas Playford.
Unlock superannuation
Two per cent of local superannuation must be invested in SA infrastructure and entrepreneurship.
For example, SA public-sector provider Super SA’s high-growth fund should have a mandated allocation for these sectors.
This provides much-needed funding for innovators and start-ups, recognising that some will fail and others might succeed, to varying degrees.
Infrastructure investment benefits existing residents and businesses, plus encourages investment.
Energy city
Build a city of 250,000 people in the Upper Spencer Gulf, focused on high-energy consumption industries. Energy sources include solar, wind and hydrogen. This capitalises on industry legacy and electricity-grid connections.
Extensive high-voltage connections were created for the coal-fired Port Augusta power stations, established during the Playford era but now decommissioned. All demolition and site clean up works were completed in April, 2019.
Early childhood
Focus investment in early childhood education and make teaching a premier career choice. Evidence shows starting children strongly in learning and wellbeing produces better outcomes when older, including reduced unemployment.
The education overhaul proposed by Prof. Lloyd would include supercharging early childhood education, creating higher literacy and numeracy. This helps children become adult innovators and transition into hi-tech and creative industries.
Education
Structural education reform for the fourth industrial revolution. An education overhaul to ensure the system is geared for the jobs of tomorrow.
Fast food ban
Promote healthy eating and lifestyles by following model of Byron Bay, NSW, that has banned fast-food chains. Proposed by Australian of the Year James Muecke, who is campaigning for extensive changes to combat type 2 diabetes.
These include a sugar tax, traffic light labelling on confectionery products and an advertising campaign about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption
Climate change
Use the instability of these times to catalyse action on climate change. Make SA a carbon-neutral state.
Focus on our strengths
Make SA the epicentre of the space sector, sustainability and creative industries. Adelaide becomes known as a city of start-ups.
