EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:21): My question is to the Treasurer. Why did the government estimate in the budget only six weeks ago that jobs growth for the last 12 months to the end of June would be 0.5 per cent when today's jobs figures show that the jobs growth over that 12-month period was in fact minus 1.3 per cent, equal to 15,000 fewer jobs than forecast, and does the Treasurer believe that the state will achieve the 0.75 per cent jobs growth budgeted for the next 12 months?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:22): I certainly do believe in the accuracy and the robustness of the forecast contained in the budget figures. As the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: As the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills has already pointed out, this appears to be a statistical aberration in that you would have a situation where, within four weeks, the unemployment rate would rise by 1.2 per cent when the national unemployment rate had changed by only 0.1 per cent.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The minister is confused. I was talking about a 12-month figure of 0.5 per cent and minus 1 per cent.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Treasurer, you can answer as you choose.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I will answer as I choose. The simple fact is that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Marshall: What about answering the question?

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, order! The Treasurer.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The simple fact is that for the unemployment rate in South Australia to rise by 1.2 per cent in contrast with the national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rising by only 0.1 per cent, as the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills has pointed out, it would appear to be an aberration, and one would need to view that figure very cautiously. So, my answer to the question is that, yes, I have complete confidence in the forecasts that are contained within the budget papers.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Florey.