Mr WILLIAMS (Hindmarsh) (19:48): As the member for Charlton introduced defence shipbuilding, I will gladly speak on that. He was asleep last week, like his previous government and colleagues were asleep during six years of government, because we know they did not commission a defence shipbuilding project. They did nothing for six years. What did we do last week? We announced a $39 billion project for Future Frigates. There were patrol boats. I am glad to let the member for Charlton know about this magnificent announcement—this commitment to the defence shipbuilding industry and 2,500 jobs to be sustained in a continuous shipbuilding project program. It is what the people of Australia in the defence shipbuilding industry have demanded, and we will deliver. I thank the member for Forde for this motion and I commend him for his support and advocacy for small business. As we know, small business is the life blood of Australia. We know that 96 per cent of businesses in Australia are small businesses—it is 98 per cent in my state. This government is committed to ensuring that small business thrives. We know that when small business thrives there are more jobs. I look forward to the member for Rankin's contribution after mine. I am hoping that he utilises his background in economics to talk about how the tax cuts and the tax incentives from the last budget will help economic growth in Australia. Dr Chalmers interjecting— Mr WILLIAMS: It would be good to see you endorse our policies, Member for Rankin, rather than make excuses. Right now, in South Australia we know that we have the highest unemployment rate and the federal government has done something about this in the federal budget, as well as with the defence shipbuilding announcement. But it is not only with that it is also with the NBN, with nation building projects and with more money for advanced manufacturing for those manufacturers that have a bright future. We have already seen green shoots in our economy. We know that since being elected that we have seen more than 330,000 jobs created. While it is taking longer for South Australia to turn around the economic challenges, we are optimistic about the future with the defence shipbuilding announcement and others. It was the shot in the arm that our economy needed; it was the shot in the arm that the defence industry needed Australia wide. We have heard Andrew Bellamy of Austal; we have heard BAE Systems—they are all very positive. Mr Frydenberg: And only we could deliver them. Mr WILLIAMS: We will deliver them, Member for Kooyong, and we have had a great response from the defence industry about this significant commitment—a unique commitment for a defence shipbuilding program. Earlier today we heard of the benefits of the free trade agreements from the minister for trade and how they are helping the economy. In terms of jobs of the future, let us look at where there are opportunities. We know that with the Medical Research Future Fund—in health care and aged care there will be close to a 20 per cent increase in that sector. Likewise, in education there will be significant job increases, and also in technical services, accommodation, food, retail and trade. There are many companies in my electorate that already excel in the areas of technical services—like Fugro and Thermo Fisher to name two. Both of these companies provide highly technical services to products around the world, with research and development being a key part of what they do. We know that our R&D expenditure can increase—it is a little over two per cent of GDP—and we are looking at new ways that industries can research and utilise government programs to develop their sectors. Zen Home Energy Systems and Tindo Solar are two such companies that over the last 10 years have set up in the renewable sector, in this growing energy market. And on the weekend it was announced that Heliostat have entered into an agreement with an Indian solar company, which could result in many new jobs for South Australia. Heliostat has also received a federal government grant, as we look to support research and development for major renewable energy export opportunities. Even though there have been highly publicised job losses in South Australia, the small businesses that I have spoken to over the last five weeks and also since the budget have been extremely positive about the initiatives. They are getting on the front foot. They are investing and expanding. They are going to employ more people and have a go. Whether it be education services, retail or hospitality their commitment is impressive. I commend them and wish them all the best. They know that government is setting the foundations for a better economic future. I commend the motion to the House.