INVESTMENT


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the September 2008 and December 2008 quarters, the South Australian chain volume (trend) estimate of private new capital expenditure decreased by 4.4% to $1,233m. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery decreased by $17m (or 2.4%) to $699m, while expenditure on Buildings and structures decreased by $40m (or 6.9%) to $533m.

Between the September 2008 and December 2008 quarters, private new capital expenditure for Australia increased by 4.2% to $24,753m. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery increased by 1.8%, while Buildings and structures expenditure increased by 6.6% over this period.

MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The value of mineral exploration expenditure in South Australia during the September quarter 2008 was $75.0m (in original terms), down 21.2% from $95.2m for the June quarter 2008. Over the same period, Australian expenditure on mineral exploration decreased by 5.5% from $728.1m in the June quarter 2008 to $687.7m in the September quarter 2008.

The main minerals sought in South Australia in the September quarter 2008 were copper ($28.5m exploration expenditure), uranium ($22.4m), and gold ($13.6m).

Expenditure on petroleum exploration in South Australia in the September quarter 2008 was $37.9m, down 3.5% from the June quarter 2008. Nationally, expenditure on petroleum exploration decreased 8.9% from $857.2m in the June quarter 2008 to $781.3m in the September quarter 2008.