INVESTMENT


PRIVATE NEW CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Between the March and June quarters of 2009, the South Australian chain volume (trend) estimate of private new capital expenditure fell by 1.7% to $1,196m. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery fell $13m (2.1%) to $621m, while expenditure on Buildings and structures fell $7m (1.2%) to $576m.

Over the same period, private new capital expenditure for Australia decreased by 0.6% to $23,925m. Expenditure on Equipment, plant and machinery fell by 2.9%, while Buildings and structures expenditure increased slightly (0.9%).

MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The value of South Australian mineral exploration expenditure (in original terms) was $41.8m in the June quarter 2009; an increase of 16.0% over the previous quarter but still 56.1% below the peak recorded in the June quarter 2008 ($95.2m). Australian expenditure on mineral exploration was $483.5m in the June quarter 2009; an increase of 19.8% from the March quarter estimate ($403.5m).

Exploration expenditure on Uranium ($21.7m) accounted for more than half (51.9%) of all South Australian mineral exploration expenditure in the June quarter 2009. A further $9.6m and $5.1m were spent on exploration for Gold and Copper, respectively.

Expenditure on petroleum exploration in South Australia almost doubled between the March and June quarters 2009, rising from $17.9m to $34.2m over this period. Nationally, expenditure on petroleum exploration rose slightly (1.9%) from $998.6m to $1017.4m over the same period.