INVESTMENT


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the December 2008 and March 2009 quarters, the South Australian chain volume (trend) estimate of private new capital expenditure decreased by 2.3% to $1,201m. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by $54m (or 8.1%) to $612m, while expenditure on Buildings and structures increased by $26m (or 4.6%) to $589m.

Between the December 2008 and March 2009 quarters, private new capital expenditure for Australia decreased by 0.7% to $23,932m. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by 5.3%, while Buildings and structures expenditure increased by 4.4% over this period.

MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The value of mineral exploration expenditure in South Australia during the March quarter 2009 was $36.0m (in original terms), down 47.1% from $68.0m for the December quarter 2008. Over the same period, Australian expenditure on mineral exploration decreased by 37.8% from $648.5m in the December quarter 2008 to $403.5m in the March quarter 2009.

The main minerals sought in South Australia in the March quarter 2009 were uranium ($10.7m exploration expenditure), copper ($7.6m), and gold ($6.0m).

Expenditure on petroleum exploration in South Australia in the March quarter 2009 was $17.9m, down 19.6% from the December quarter 2008. Nationally, expenditure on petroleum exploration decreased 1.5% from $1,013.4m in the December quarter 2008 to $998.6m in the March quarter 2009.