South Australia is different to the rest of Australia, and indeed the world, says our Premier.

In a speech opening a convention of the 1st Global Alliance for Innovation Learning, Premier Jay Weatherill took a veiled swipe at national and international trends towards nationalism.

The creeping resistance to globalisation, however, is not evident in South Australia, “as it is elsewhere”, Weatherill says.

Australia’s policies on asylum seekers were an unwanted example of intolerance, he said.

“South Australians generally resist the modern tendency to alienate people seeking asylum in Australia, and we have chosen as our Governor a man who came to Australia as a refugee,” he told the convention at Scotch College this morning.

Weatherill focussed on the impact of globalisation and a developing anxiety among nations, regions and communities.

“There has been a concerning tendency for an increasing number of people to turn to race and religion as the only valid expressions of national or cultural identity.

“We are already seeing this unfortunate tendency in Europe and across Asia.

“The renewed appeal of nationalism is, to some extent, a reaction to the suffocating effect globalisation has had on many local, ethnic and national traditions; this is most unfortunate.

“Yet, in South Australia, the empty pride of small differences is not evident as it is elsewhere.

“We remain an open, welcoming place.”

South Australia also had other points of difference, the Premier told students.

“Adelaide is the nation’s safest capital city, yet remains an affordable place to live when compared to other Australian states and territories.”