INVESTMENT


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the March 2008 and June 2008 quarters, the South Australian chain volume (trend) estimate of private new capital expenditure decreased by 0.6% to $1,241m. Expenditure on Equipment, Plant and Machinery increased by $21m (or 3.3%) to $658m, while expenditure on Buildings and Structures decreased by $28m (or 4.6%) to $583m.

Between the March 2008 and June 2008 quarters, private new capital expenditure for Australia increased by 4.1% to $22,452m. Expenditure on Buildings and Structures increased by 2.0%, and Equipment, Plant and Machinery expenditure increased by 4.4% over this period.

MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The value of mineral exploration expenditure in South Australia during the June quarter 2008 was $95.2m (in original terms), up 19.9% from $79.3m for the March quarter 2008. Over the same period, Australian expenditure on mineral exploration increased 33.8% from $544.0m in the March quarter 2008 to $728.1m in the June quarter 2008.

The main minerals sought in South Australia in the June quarter 2008 were copper ($38.4m exploration expenditure), uranium ($27.1m), and gold ($11.6m).

Expenditure on petroleum exploration in South Australia in the June quarter 2008 was $39.3m, up 23.7% from the March quarter 2008. Nationally, expenditure on petroleum exploration increased 20.8% from $709.4m in the March quarter 2008 to $857.2m in the June quarter 2008.