EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): My question is to the Premier. How many new jobs are there in South Australia since the Labor government's election promise to create 100,000 new jobs, almost four years ago?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:16): The South Australian government, through its policies and through the endeavours of South Australians, has been creating thousands and thousands of new jobs in the South Australian economy. The truth is that at the same time there are also thousands and thousands of jobs that are leaving the state because of the changes in our international circumstances.

This is both an exciting but also very unnerving time for many citizens of South Australia. We see household names getting into difficulties, although pleasingly we see that names like Spring Gully and Trims are looking to have a new future. So, there are stories of change. Sadly, we see names like Darrell Lea chocolates going out of business. These things, which are iconic South Australian names, unnerve South Australians when they see this going on in the South Australian economy.

However, we are also seeing new industries, industries that did not exist before we took office, spring to life. We have seen the wind industry and the renewable energy industry come to life, jobs that were not capable of being imagined prior to 2002. We have seen a defence sector where we now win in the order of 25 per cent of the nation's in-country defence spend, which situates us as a leader in the nation in relation to defence procurement.

We are seeing a segment of the manufacturing sector actually growing. The food manufacturing sector, a component of manufacturing, is one of the great highlights of the manufacturing sector, and, of course, we are seeing the exciting opportunities that are now presenting themselves in the medical devices and medical technology sector, as we seek to leverage off some of our world-class research and our medical practitioners.

There is growth in the South Australian economy, but there is change. The challenge is to grow faster than the world around us is changing. This is a time not to stand still. We cannot afford this period of delay while we wait for the federal government to make up its mind about one of the single most important sectors in the South Australian economy. Join with us and call on the federal government to take its decision.

The SPEAKER: Is this a supplementary?

Mr MARSHALL: It certainly is, sir.