The decision to base the Australian Space Agency headquarters in Adelaide helped South Australia shake off its "inferiority complex", Premier Steven Marshall says.
Approaching his one-year anniversary in the role, Mr Marshall said the space announcement and Lot Fourteen innovation precinct were major achievements since taking government.
"Securing the space agency showed just what can be achieved with an ambitious focus on the future," he said on Friday.
"We didn't win that bid because we were owed it. We won it because we were committed and we were convincing."
Mr Marshall said landing the space agency was also an important psychological milestone for the state.
"South Australia threw off its inferiority complex, rediscovered our own self-respect and started to feel better about ourselves again," he told guests at a lunch in Adelaide.
The premier said much of his first year in office had been spent laying the foundation for a better government.
"As we begin our second year, we commit to building quickly and creatively on those foundations," he said.
But his optimism was not shared by the state opposition, who says South Australians have the right to feel let down by Mr Marshall.
"Steven Marshall promised more jobs, but unemployment has increased from 5.6 per cent to 6.3 per cent," he said.
"Steven Marshall promised lower costs, but he's cutting the free Footy Express and jacking up housing trust rents for our most vulnerable.
"Steven Marshall promised better services, but he's closing Service SA branches, cutting bus routes, closing hospital beds and shutting down TAFE campuses."
Australian Associated Press
