RETAIL SECTOR

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Why have almost 10,000 of the state's retail sector jobs been lost in the last three months, the highest proportion of retail sector job losses in the nation?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:58): It pales into insignificance next to 35,000. It pales into insignificance compared to—

Mr PISONI: Point of order!

The SPEAKER: What is your point of order?

Mr PISONI: The minister is debating the answer.

The SPEAKER: He has not debated; he has only said one sentence. We will hear how he continues. Minister.

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: It is not debate, it is an observation of fact, ma'am. Quite clearly, this government has a policy. This policy of this government is to create jobs. The policy of those opposite is to eliminate jobs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: The opposition leader—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The minister is debating the answer to the question—10,000 retail jobs—

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you. Sit down.

Mr PISONI: —all those shoppies union subscriptions—

The SPEAKER: You don't have an opportunity to make a statement. You made your point of order. Minister, I refer you back to the question.

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: Thank you, ma'am. The opposition leader has two policies—French villages and a French unemployment rate.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. On what basis is the minister responsible for the Leader of the Opposition's policy?

The SPEAKER: I don't know what your point of order was, but, minister, I refer you back to the question. Have you finished your answer?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: Yes, ma'am.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. The member for Port Adelaide.