Regional Employment

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. Has the minister been briefed on how many jobs we lost in regional South Australia as a result of ForestrySA job cuts, emergency services levy hikes, emergency services body mergers and now the government’s marine park policy?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:22): I represent the Minister for Employment in this chamber. What I can say is that the government has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve opportunities for people for employment not only in regional areas but also across the state with a whole range of things, such as changes to payroll tax, for example, the proposed changes to WorkCover—a whole range of initiatives to improve the opportunity for employers to increase job opportunities. They are some of the things we have done, but I will get a full answer for the member from the minister responsible.