Employment Figures

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): A further question to the Premier: what specific actions, apart from putting the clock forward half an hour, Premier, are you undertaking to address this distressing unemployment rate, in particular of the 21.9 per cent of those South Australians aged between 15 and 19?

An honourable member: Was that a Dorothy Dixer?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:11): That's right. Unfortunately, we only have four minutes, but let us begin. Let's just chronologically go backwards: the most recent announcement, obviously, tackling the time zone; before that, the budget and the largest single tax reform initiative which has been put forward in South Australia in living memory, leading the nation in reforming transaction taxes. It has been noticed all the way throughout the financial press and increasingly South Australia is the focus of attention for national businesses, and I hope to make some very exciting announcements about companies that are seeing South Australia as an investment destination.

Going through each of the 10 economic priorities: making South Australia the best place to do business; WorkCover, from 1 July, $180 million worth of levy reductions for businesses in South Australia, absolutely dwarfing any of the commitments those opposite made before the last election concerning tax cuts—$180 million per annum. If we look at innovation, Tonsley Park, increasingly attracting an exciting group of businesses which are trialling new technologies—just the other day, out there with driverless car technology being trialled at Tonsley Park.

The internationalisation of the South Australian economy: the largest single trade mission ever taken to Shandong Province, and the largest trade mission ever to leave South Australia, and literally dozens of deals done off the back of that which will create prosperity and jobs for South Australia. We have also seen exciting changes that have occurred off the back of our investment in the Riverbank Precinct, where increasingly tourists are coming to South Australia to experience what South Australia has to offer. Domestic tourism: very strong growth, and our $50 million investment in the budget in tourism will accelerate our international tourist opportunities.

We have also seen a fantastic set of commitments around renewable energy. The government is seeking to make South Australia and the city of Adelaide a showcase by making it the world's first carbon-neutral city. This will attract attention and investment in South Australia as we showcase to the world the sorts of technologies that will allow us to cope with a carbon-constrained future.

We also in the budget did not ignore the imperatives of our construction sector. Not only are we sustaining growth off the back of our public investments, with the now private investments coming on with four hotels that are under construction and another four in the pipeline, we have also put a stimulus into the housing sector with a $60 million stimulus into the social housing sector, which is providing much-needed homes for people who need affordable housing, but also, importantly, much-needed investment for the construction industry.

We also, in the food and wine sector, have announced recently one of the most exciting and innovative new business models we've seen, with Beston announcing the purchase of a dairy factory at Murray Bridge, which had closed, which is now going to reopen, with many prospects for growth for the benefit of our food and wine sectors.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before the deputy leader asks her third supplementary, I call to order the member for Morialta, the member for Schubert, the Treasurer, the Minister for Investment and Trade, the Minister for Health, and the members for Chaffey and Stuart. The member for Stuart continues to interject out of his seat. The deputy leader.