Question Time

Employment Figures

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier admit our state is headed towards a dangerous jobs crisis, given mining jobs are down 22 per cent and construction jobs are down 15 per cent in the past year?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:11): Yes, and that is why we are transforming the South Australian economy. That is why we decided at the last election to keep building South Australia. That is why at the last election we said we would step up and take the lead in transforming the South Australian economy. I don't understand why those opposite think that repeating the nature of the challenge in increasingly louder and scornful language actually advances the public policy debate.

We are the only party which is out there with positive ideas for the future of South Australia. I did enjoy how every single time we advanced an idea, it was met with, 'This is just a distraction.' Then the next idea we come up with, it is, 'This is just a distraction,' and then the next idea, 'This is a distraction.' Although on one of them they said, 'No, it was our idea, but it's still a distraction.' This is the laziest, most bereft of ideas opposition we have ever seen in this state's history. They simply do not have—

Members interjecting:

Mr GARDNER: A point of order, Mr Speaker: 98 will do.

The SPEAKER: 98, debate? Well, before I rule on that I call to order the members for Kavel, Stuart, Hammond, Flinders and Hartley. I warn for the first time the deputy leader, the member for Mount Gambier and the member for Unley, and I warn the leader for the second and final time. Of course, the Premier is not responsible to the house for the opposition; however, he was sorely provoked by the interjections. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. What we do need is a sense of unity in South Australia, so in this sense the opposition is relevant. They are relevant to the things that we need to do to transform and modernise the South Australian economy. They have a role in this place to generate ideas, they have a role in these houses of parliament to pass the legislation necessary for us to achieve this transformation of the South Australian economy.

We agree with you that there is a challenge. Just join with us in meeting the challenge. Advance a single positive idea which is directed at meeting the challenge—just one—if even in your own interests. Tell those people who run you that bundling you up in a sack and putting you in the boot and trying to smuggle you across the border at the last state election didn't work.

The SPEAKER: Could the Premier return to the substance of the question. The Premier has finished.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I warn the deputy leader for the second and final time, and I call to order the member for Morialta. Leader.