REDUNDANCY ASSISTANCE

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:50): Will the Premier advise why the same level of assistance has not been given to other employees who have lost their jobs in South Australia as has been offered to Bridgestone workers? In 2008, Commander Communications was forced to cut 600 staff and 80 Adelaide-based Jetstar workers were made redundant and yet the same assistance was not given by the state government to these employees.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:50): Do you know, the best thing that this government has been doing is creating jobs: 101,000 extra jobs in this state compared to when you were in power, when you had the highest unemployment—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: No, I will answer—

Mr PISONI: Sir, I rise on a point of order. My specific question was about government assistance to Bridgestone employees as opposed to others.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has just begun his answer, but he must answer the substance of the question.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It does not surprise me that the Liberal Party would attack assistance to Bridgestone's loyal workforce, because that is what this is about.

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: It was simply a question, sir. There was no attack.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: I am asking—

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley will take his seat. The Premier must not debate.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: What we have been doing is working with industry to create jobs—$44 billion worth of defence projects won in the past five years; the PACE scheme, which has seen a tenfold increase in mining exploration. Also, there has been assistance—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order. The member for Unley.

Mr PISONI: My question was about assistance to Bridgestone workers and not others.

The SPEAKER: Order! It is not for the chair to direct the Premier how to answer the question, as long as he is answering the substance of the question and is not engaging in debate.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Thank you, sir. What we have been doing is creating jobs; the reverse of the Liberals, who cut jobs, who privatised, who did not give a damn—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! the Premier must not debate. The member for Florey.