House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Unemployment Figures Unemployment Figures Mr MARSHALL House of Assembly Dunstan Leader of the Opposition Unemployment Figures Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): Supplementary: can the Premier outline to the house how many more South Australians are looking for work since he became the Premier of this state? The Hon. P. Caica House of Assembly The Hon. P. Caica: You don't do angry very well, Steven. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is warned. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Premier The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:15): In the last month since the unemployment rates were published, the lion's share of the increase in the unemployment rate has been because more people are looking for work. More people have been attracted into the labour market—a 0.4 per cent increase in the labour force participation rate—to seek jobs and that is the— Mr Gardner interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is called to order. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The lion's share of the deterioration in the unemployment rate is because more people are looking for work, not that there are fewer jobs. That is the essential change that has occurred over the last period. I don't seek to hide the fact that there is a significant unemployment rate that we need to address. I don't hide the fact that there are traditional industries in decline and that we need to transform the South Australian economy, but bellowing from the opposition benches about the effect of that— Mr Pisoni interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: If the member for Unley moves his lips outside standing orders again, he will depart under the sessional order. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I freely admit that there are far too many people in our community seeking employment who are unable to find a job. That is a source of enormous concern to my party which has as its essential project the creation of jobs. We are a labour party. It is at the heart of our purpose. The dignity of work and the way in which that allows people to imagine a future for themselves and their families is our project, and we spend every day of our working life thinking of ways in which we can create employment. Our decision is to step up and take a lead and seek to transform the South Australian economy. I wasn't the one ducking for cover and disappearing into hallways and behind closed doors, avoiding questions— Mr GARDNER House of Assembly Mr GARDNER: Point of order. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The point of order is? Mr GARDNER House of Assembly Mr GARDNER: It is debate, sir. The question was— The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Yes, I know what the question was. I would ask the Premier perhaps to return closer to the substance of the question. Is the Premier finished? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I have allowed the leader to violate the standing orders at will for the last two questions. I hope he will now comply with the standing orders.