House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Employment Figures EMPLOYMENT FIGURES Mr MARSHALL House of Assembly Norwood Leader of the Opposition EMPLOYMENT FIGURES Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): Thank you, sir. My question is again to the Premier. Can the Premier explain why the northern suburbs' unemployment rate of 9.5 per cent is almost double the state-wide figure? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Premier Minister for State Development Minister for the Public Sector Minister for the Arts EMPLOYMENT FIGURES The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:17): I thank the honourable member for his question. The variations across various regions in South Australia have always been a feature of unemployment within this state. There are regional variations, and they respond to the particular circumstances that exist in those regions. We know that the northern suburbs of South Australia are a particularly important manufacturing region for South Australia. We know that there is real pressure on the manufacturing sector in South Australia. If we need a reminder about that, we only need to point to the circumstances of Holden's announcement just a few days ago. We know that a number of component manufacturers were already taking steps to lay off staff in anticipation of decisions by Holden to reduce productions levels. Consistently, there has been a lower level of employment in some of these areas that have traditionally been in areas of the economy which are responding to the international global conditions which are placing pressures on those industries. That is precisely why we have responded to those pressures with a plan to actually address them. There is absolutely no point in describing the bleeding obvious unless you have a positive solution for the future. We have; we have published it, we've put it out there, and what you have— Members interjecting: The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is a detailed, articulated plan for the future of South Australia. Mr PISONI House of Assembly Mr PISONI: Point of order. Again, No. 137 refers to obstruction. On numerous occasions, you have asked the Premier to not debate, and he continues to do so, sir. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: In your opinion. In fact, I think the Premier is offering information relevant to the answer and accordingly, member for Unley, I call you to order. Premier. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I return to the economic statement, a plan which (1) sets out where we have been in this state, since 1836 to date; (2) describes the current circumstances; (3) describes the opportunities that exist in this state; (4) sets out an ambitious vision in each of these four areas; (5) sets out a plan on how we can get there. On all of those matters we have burst into print. We have made ourselves accountable. Where is your plan? Mr Pisoni House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: You've had no plan for eleven years. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I warn the member for Unley for the first time.