EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): The Premier said that he was spending $10 billion to create 8,700 jobs. Can he perhaps tell the parliament how much the state will be paying to create each of those jobs?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:13): I am more than happy to do that. It is set out in the budget, and I will repeat: $896 million upgrade of South Road between the Torrens Road intersection and the River Torrens, the construction of the electrical substation at Dry Creek, getting back on the Gawler line. I know the member—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir: the Premier is not addressing the substance of the question. The question was about the cost of creating those jobs.

The SPEAKER: I think the better point would be repetition. The leader.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: There is more?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes, Mr Speaker. I am just simply seeking to answer a question that I was asked by the Leader of the Opposition.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier has the call.

Mr Marshall: $1.2 million—that's how much.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: He knows the answer to the question, apparently, but he happens to be wrong. The public investments we have made—$10.1 billion of public investment that we have made—will generate not only the jobs that have been created here but economic returns and activity for generations in this state, just like the state building measures that were taken by Sir Thomas Playford when he raised debt to finance the important state building projects which have built the state—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned for the second time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —the hospitals; the schools: the public infrastructure that continues to deliver returns to South Australians now, just like any public investment. Consider this, Mr Speaker: the so-called allegation against the government of false economy when we make significant public investments which generate benefits for generations. There would not be a public investment made in this state or this nation if it was not for sensible governments making long-term investments funded by debt. Are you seriously suggesting that out of our recurrent expenditure we should fund the state building projects that allow this state to grow and prosper? That is economic lunacy. To be advanced by those opposite simply demonstrates they have no—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order from the member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The Premier is entering into debate. When he says, 'Do you seriously think this' or 'Do you seriously think that,' he is entering into debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: Well, the conjecture was around the cost per job. I think it is within the legitimate answer for the Premier to canvass the merits per job.

Mr Gardner: You've gone soft.

The SPEAKER: No; well, actually, I haven't. Excuse me, Premier. The member for Morialta—and I imagine he did this a lot in school—drew my attention to the Minister for Transport Services defying my ruling by continuing to interject. In accordance with the information supplied to me by the member for Morialta, I warn the Minister for Transport Services for the first time. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I conclude by saying that ensuring that the state has a moderate level of debt so that it can fund important public infrastructure projects, so that it can continue to deliver surpluses for people in the future and also jobs—

Mr Venning: Moderate level of debt; I'd hate to see a high one.

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Schubert to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —for people now, is at the heart of our economic strategy. We accept that there is a difference of opinion—

Mr Venning: That's disgraceful!

The SPEAKER: I warn the member for Schubert.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —between us on this question of how the economy should be run in the interests of the ordinary working people of this state. We accept that there is a difference between us and we are content for the community of South Australia to make their choice.