South Australian Economy

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:43): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier outline what he sees as some of the highlights for South Australia in 2016?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for her question. Well, 2016 has been a year of delivery and achievement for the South Australian community—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —led by the South Australian government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: There were 10,000 jobs created in the last 12 months or 15 months.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned a second time.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: There have been falls in unemployment. This year's budget, incentivising business to employ more people—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mount Gambier is warned a second time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —through the Jobs Accelerator Grant—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: For the last six months, 1,700 businesses creating—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Goyder is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —3,500 jobs. Twelve new submarines—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned a second time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Our tourism sector—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —4,000 jobs created over two years. Qatar, a new airline, is coming into South Australia. Later this month, China Southern is coming into South Australia, and Lonely Planet is indicating that we are one of the top—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport is warned for the second time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —five regions in the world to visit this year. We are the state that does better than anyone else in relation to events. From our major art festivals to the Clipsal 500, the Tour Down Under, the fashion festival—all bringing tourists to South Australia. In November, we created our first new mine in this state in the last five years through the opening of Carrapateena. We are investing in education: half a billion dollars in our—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier will be seated.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Indeed. The next member to interject during the Premier's answer will depart under the sessional order, and if it is more than one, so be it. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The good bits are coming up, so they might be able to hear these. We are keeping our commitment to keep building South Australia. It still sends a shiver down their spine when they hear that. Projects like the Torrens to Torrens, the Darlington, the Northern Connector and the Torrens junction are all being delivered in 2016. Our nation-leading biomedical precinct continues to grow. We have announced new plans for the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site, a new tram line in the city and, of course, a plan to fix the Oaklands crossing. We are rolling out the massive modernisation of our hospital system that we have just heard about—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss will depart under the sessional order for the remainder of question time.

The honourable member for Finniss having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —from the Minister for Health. Of course, we are doing that most important thing, which all leaders should do, which is to stand up for South Australia. Whether it is our shipbuilding projects, our automotive workers, our steel workers in Whyalla or that most important natural and economic asset, our River Murray, we will continue to fight and avoid being dudded by Canberra. Of course, in a few moments' time we will be making an important apology—

Mr Bell: Is this his valedictory speech?

The SPEAKER: It is the member for Mount Gambier's valedictory for today. He will depart under the sessional order for the remainder of question time.

The honourable member for Mount Gambier having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —having passed significant legislation and important changes to remove discrimination in our state laws. And of course just this week we have committed $432 million towards that most important task of all: keeping our children safe. All of this has been achieved at the same time as returning our budget to surplus.

There is a growing awareness in South Australia that we are making the transformation in the South Australian economy, which has been hard fought for and hard won, and I must say that it has been despite the headwinds that have been imposed upon us by a federal Liberal government that chased Holden out of this state and by a federal Liberal government that dithered over our defence contracts and has led us into the valley of death.

So, despite all of those things, there have been 15 consecutive months of falls in unemployment. This is an extraordinary achievement. I think the people in South Australia are beginning to understand that these positive signs are taking hold. The plan is working, and what we do need—

Ms Sanderson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is warned a second and final time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —is those opposite joining with us, not acting against us.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: the Premier has just started debating the question.

The SPEAKER: Well, it has taken a very long time. He is almost finished.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I have been listening carefully.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to what the Premier has to say.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I just ask for a little bit of time on while I thank all of those who have assisted us in this house. The Minister for Government Business will do this more formally a little later on, but everybody in this house, especially during late sittings, is greatly assisted by all of those who transcribe our words, all of those who support us on a daily basis, all of the clerks who allow the smooth running of this house, and a Speaker who attempts to keep order despite all of the provocations. I even offer the hand of friendship to those opposite who, from time to time, cooperate with us—except of course the deputy leader.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, sir: my point of order is that time has expired, but he has run out of the list.

The SPEAKER: The Speaker has discretion to grant time on, like a soccer referee.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I was just attempting to hand out some compliments—

The SPEAKER: The valedictory speeches will be later.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —to all those here, including those opposite, but it seems they are not in a mood to hear such things.

The SPEAKER: No, they are not.