Abbott to woo SA on jobs and spending

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has come to SA to announce big commitments to infrastructure and job creation projects.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill.

SA's premier says the child protection system is struggling under the weight of abuse notifications. (AAP)

It's the big thaw after the big freeze.

After months of frosty relations between the federal and South Australian governments over funding for infrastructure and job creation projects, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier Jay Weatherill appear to be finally on the same page.

The pair met in Adelaide on Monday where the premier put a range of projects to the PM, who has brought the federal cabinet to town for a series of announcements to boost the state's flagging economy.

A $20 billion plan to build navy frigates in SA and Victoria is likely to be the headline act and there is also more cash to aid car component companies, more jobs with the national broadband network and funding for major road projects.

Mr Abbott said his message to South Australia was to banish pessimism and defeatism and if he had a wish, it would be "to see this state restored to being an economic powerhouse".

"My message to South Australia is that we can do it," he said.

"We can build things here, we can make things here - we can do it."

Mr Weatherill said the strength of the federal government's commitment to South Australia would become clear over the next few days.

But with the state's jobless rate rising to 8.2 per cent in June, he was confident the federal government finally understood how imperative it was to provide further assistance.

"We've been putting a lot of effort in explaining to the Commonwealth the size of the challenge, the urgency of the challenge and the fact that we feel that we haven't, up to this point, been receiving our fair share of the attention of the national government," Mr Weatherill said.

"I think that message is getting through to the prime minister."

Mr Abbott said the imminent commitment to defence shipbuilding would show that South Australia could continue to have a viable defence industry.

"We'll be making announcements in the next day or so which will give South Australians - will give the naval shipbuilders in this country - confidence that they have a strong and dynamic future," he said.


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Source: AAP


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