Grievance Debate

STATE ECONOMY

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:16): This week sees the one-year birthday of the Premier coming to the position, and I just want to make some comments on where South Australia is under this particular Premier and this government. In fairness to the Premier, he often criticises the opposition for talking down South Australia and criticising the South Australian economy, so I want to start off by talking about South Australia's highs.

Of course, the Premier came to the position when the Treasurer and the shoppies union went into the former premier's office and said, 'Hi Mike, we are here to give you the sack.' So, it started out on that particular high. Under this Premier, South Australia has a number of highs. South Australia has the highest debt in its history. It is currently about $8.4 billion and it is flying up, increasing by 50 per cent to over $13 billion in 2015-16—the highest debt in the state's history. We have the highest deficit in the state's history. It is $867 million this year and will be $770 million, nearly $800 million in round numbers, next year.

We have the highest-taxing state government in Australia. The Institute of Public Affairs for three years running have put out reports indicating that this government is the highest-taxing government in Australia. There is no better illustration than the WorkCover levy, which is the highest WorkCover levy in Australia by a street. In fact, their WorkCover system is that sick it could go on WorkCover itself.

We have the highest metropolitan water prices in any capital city in Australia, thanks to the ill-fated desal plant rejected by the government, then accepted by the government, then doubled by the government and then mothballed by the government. The public out there are saying, 'Please, if you are going to mothball the desal plant, can you mothball the cabinet and government with it?' That is the reality. We have high electricity prices. One that is really interesting, given the government deliberately went out to lose our AAA credit rating, is that this state pays the highest interest rate on its debt of any state in Australia, according to the Queensland Commission of Audit.

But let us not talk about all the highs that exist in South Australia: let us balance it and talk about some lows. You can stamp it on the Treasurer's head, you can stamp it on the Premier's forehead: South Australia has the lowest credit rating in Australia. It has gone from AAA to AAA- to AA+ to AA. We are lower in credit rating than Tasmania. Business confidence, as a result, is rock bottom. There was another survey put out yesterday about business sentiment for the next six months, and again South Australian business sentiment—rock bottom. We have the lowest real estate sales in 27 years, we have the lowest housing approvals in 11 years, and under WorkCover we have the lowest return to work rate in Australia—all delivered by this government.

Let's be frank: they have been there 10 years; there is simply no excuse. This is their result. This is the result of 10 years of this government, and Premier Weatherill has been in cabinet every single day. Right across that 10 years this Premier has been there in senior positions. The government trots out this line: 'Poor old South Australia; it's the global financial crisis.' Now, everyone knows that the global financial crisis impacted on every state in Australia. We were not an orphan.

Europe did not pick out South Australia, and say, 'Let's get them.' It happened right across Australia, and what the government cannot explain, what the government will not explain, is: why is it that South Australia under this government is performing so badly? Why is it that South Australia under this government is performing so badly? Every other state had the global financial crisis. Every other state has had to deal with it; and guess what? They have better credit ratings than us, they are getting back to surplus quicker than us, and they are dealing with their debt quicker than us. On that note, Madam Speaker, can I wish the Premier—Happy Birthday!

Time expired.