Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (13:58): My question is directed to the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology. The Premier and the Treasurer have refused to endorse Anthony Albanese's tax hike on startups. Will the Minister endorse Federal Labor's tax hike on startups?
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Oatley to order for the third time.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (13:58): I thank the member for Manly for his question. Issues around capital gains tax changes are a matter for the Commonwealth. But what I can say is that the New South Wales Government has reformed the innovation sector and has a long‑term plan over the next 10 years through its Innovation Blueprint. The Government is making sure it supports our industry policy initiatives, addressing the significant policy challenges that are impacting the New South Wales economy. Housing, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy are great economic opportunities for the State and innovation policy must be able to support this.
On top of that, the Government in the budget allocated $80 million towards innovation, the startup sector and the scale‑up sector so that we can generate the digital jobs of the future for the people of New South Wales by including startups in every sector to ensure that there are great opportunities right here in this State. On top of that, the Government is of course also making sure that Tech Central, that great precinct not far from Parliament House, becomes and continues to be the number one innovation precinct in the Southern Hemisphere, competing not only with other States and other cities in Australia—
Mr James Griffin: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume his seat. I will hear the point of order from the member for Manly. He will direct his comments through the Chair.
Mr James Griffin: As comprehensive as the answer might have been, it is not relevant. Does the Minister support the Premier's position?
The SPEAKER: I rule that the Minister has been directly relevant from the commencement of his answer.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: As I said, Tech Central is and will continue to be the number one innovation precinct in Australia because the Government wants to ensure that it becomes globally competitive. In a globalised, competitive environment in the digital economy, we are competing with global cities anywhere around the world. We have a workforce that is highly globalised and mobilised which can just fold up their laptops and move anywhere across the world. The Government's strategy around Tech Central ensures that we create a great environment where those with great ideas and great innovation can take risks and challenge the status quo. That will ensure that the New South Wales Government continues to grow this great sector that the New South Wales economy has created.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs are on the line if we do not get this right. The Innovation Blueprint, support of the industry policy and the $80 million the New South Wales Government is investing in this sector will ensure that, particularly, young people in New South Wales can create the great companies—the Canvas, the Afterpays, the Atlassians—that will offer the jobs of the future. The New South Wales Government's Innovation Blueprint, our $80 million investment and our Tech Central strategy will ensure that this sector continues to grow.
