EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:13): My question is to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can the minister advise the house of the current levels of employment in South Australia?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister Assisting the Premier with South Australia's Strategic Plan, Minister Assisting the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:14): I thank the member for Reynell for her question. I am very pleased to advise the house that the employment statistics released this morning by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that more South Australians have jobs than ever before, according to today's figures. There are 825,200 South Australians now in work. This is the seventh consecutive month when the number of South Australians in jobs has grown.

Since the March 2010 election, 18,600 jobs have been created in South Australia. This means that since 2002 a record 134,000 jobs have been created. Significantly, the state's headline unemployment rate has dropped by 0.3 per cent to 5.1 per cent in June. These figures, along with a record all-time-high participation rate in trend terms of 63.8 per cent, show that South Australians have the confidence to find jobs they want, with an extra 1,900 people gaining employment in the last month alone. Along with the drop in the headline unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent, the third lowest nationally—not two as I might previously have suggested—South Australia's youth unemployment rate also dropped by 6.8 percentage points to 20 per cent in June.

There are more jobs in our state than ever before, coupled with record investment in training, to ensure that South Australians have the skills they need to take advantage of the jobs of the future. The state government is investing $194 million in the Skills for All reform agenda, which is setting out a blueprint for the modernising and renewing of the vocational education and training (VET) system, aimed at significantly increasing the state's skill levels to lift workforce participation and increase productivity.

We have also committed to continuing our massive infrastructure build, with an investment of more than $9 billion. As well, the value of major developments in South Australia stands at a record $80 billion, with almost half generated in the minerals and resources sector.

An honourable member: Hear, hear!

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: I would 'Hear, hear!' myself, but I can't. The June employment figures show growth in total employment in South Australia of 19.4 per cent since 2002, more than double the figure of only 8.4 per cent during the term of the last Liberal government. An even greater contrast is that full-time employment has grown by 17.9 per cent under the Rann government, compared to just 1.3 per cent during the term of the previous Liberal government. I am sure the sounds of silence from the lemon-sucking member for Unley this month will be deafening.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order, member for Unley.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: I ask for that to be withdrawn. I do not think that is very parliamentary.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I think the minister should withdraw that.

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: Ma'am, I withdraw and apologise for being uncharitable.

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!