STATE ECONOMY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): Given that the Treasurer has outlined to the house that South Australia is in a unique and wonderful position to capitalise on the growth opportunities that were outlined in the Deloitte Access Economics report, can he explain to the house why Deloitte Access Economics predicts a 5.7 per cent cumulative growth rate over the next four years, whereas the state budget actually provides for 11.2 per cent?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:05): We rely upon the conservative estimates of future growth from our Treasury officials. We see a range of different estimates that are made about the growth of the South Australian economy across a range of commentators. I must say that the preponderance of them are that we have grown in the last financial year and that we will continue to grow in each of the other financial years.

I would like to know from the Leader of the Opposition: has he now abandoned his outrageous talking down of the South Australian economy where he said we were in recession last year? Deloitte does not share that analysis about the effect of what occurred in 2012-13. So, if he is to be consistent there—I know he is very keen on cherrypicking any shred of data which allows him to talk down the South Australian economy, but we take the view, consistent with Deloitte, that we have a positive and bright economic future in this country and in this state.

We have made the right choices to grow this state. We have made the infrastructure decisions which are transforming this state, and the momentum is building, and they hate it. They hate it. They hate the idea that there is a growing sense of confidence in this state about our economic future. Every time there is a piece of data that comes out, they seek to find some alternative shred of data to talk down the South Australian economy.

Mr MARSHALL: A supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: Before you do that, I call the members for Morialta and Stuart, the deputy leader and the member for Finniss to order, and I warn the member for Heysen for the first time. Supplementary, leader?