TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:47): A supplementary, sir. Can the minister advise the house how many new jobs are a direct result of the Skills for All program?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:47): I can answer the question. I can tell you what would happen if the Liberal policies were implemented—and we have listened to them—8,700—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Point of order from the member for Unley.

Mr PISONI: The Premier has immediately entered into debate—'what would happen if the Liberal policies'—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, I am listening carefully to the Premier—

Mr PISONI: That is debate, sir.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: —and I think he is in order. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: What I can say is this: if we listen to those opposite, our Skills for All policies are based on the investments that we made in the last budget—8,700 jobs over the forward estimates in relation to infrastructure projects. If we listen to those opposite—those jobs gone.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I hope you have heard enough to agree that the Premier is actually debating. He is answering a fictitious question.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, I don't.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The question was: how many jobs from the Skills for All program?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I don't agree. I think the Premier is in order and I think that is a vexatious point of order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Mr Speaker, our Skills for All program is also predicated on our industry policy. Our industry policy is about securing a future for Holden's; 13,000 jobs are at risk if we listen to those opposite. So tote them up: 8,700 jobs—13,000 jobs. And we know, courtesy of the brochure—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Pamphlet—if that offends you.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey will stop interrupting.

An honourable member: Call it a flyer.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We know, courtesy of the flyer, that we have this—

Mr PISONI: Point of order.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: A point of order.

Mr PISONI: The question was directly asking how many direct jobs were created as a result of Skills for All. We haven't heard from the minister a single number that relates to that question.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think the Premier is answering the question. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Mr Speaker, because the words don't always tell the story, if you want to get the real story, look at who he is sitting next to—the school closer himself, Mr Lucas. He is sitting there, the Hon. Rob Lucas: 45 schools, 15,000 public servants—

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Point of order from the member for Heysen.

Mrs REDMOND: Surely that reference to the contents of that brochure must be debate.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will ask the Premier to return to the question.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I am so glad the member for Heysen intervenes at just the right time because the truth is that this is the excuse for the 25,000 job cuts. So, tote them up—8,700.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Point of order from the member for Heysen.

Mrs REDMOND: The Premier is defying your ruling, sir, and not returning to the substance of the debate.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to return to the point of the question.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Our policies are predicated on investing in jobs—8,700, 13,000, 25,000, all gone if those opposite were listened to.