Question Time

Unemployment Figures

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier sack the employment minister, who is pleased South Australia has maintained the highest trend unemployment rate in the nation for the past 18 months?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:03): A typically empty contribution on a day when we should be addressing the fundamental issues about employment and the capacity to create jobs—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —in the South Australian economy.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: This is the same political party that was predicting double-digit unemployment when they were celebrating back in mid-2015, when unemployment was 8.1 per cent. It must be a source of enormous disappointment for them that over the previous 18 months we have had 18 consecutive months of jobs growth, increasing by 16,900.

What the people of South Australia expect, instead of an empty cheer every time there is disappointing news on the job front, is to see a party that pretends to be the alternative party of government promoting a platform for change for the South Australian community. But we know that they are philosophically incapable of offering anything because out of the mouth of the Leader of the Opposition, one year out from the next state election, he declares himself a free market guy. He is the free market guy who believes you just sit back and let things happen. That's the vision that he offers the people of South Australia at a time when they want somebody to stand up and protect them and their jobs.

They want somebody to go out and fight for the big companies to come here—like DCNS, to build the Future Submarines; like Boeing, making sure Boeing comes to town and creates jobs and opportunities here; and like the other 3,200 jobs that have been attracted through the Investment Attraction body and the excellent work of the Minister for Trade and Investment.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: In a week when we open up the Northern Plains to an exciting irrigation project that promises 3,700 jobs in the Northern Plains, we have the Leader of the Opposition come here with his empty rhetoric about criticising a Minister for Employment who is using every moment of his waking hours dedicated to creating jobs and opportunities in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Mr Speaker, if I can be heard for a moment in silence.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I have a long list of warnings to deliver as soon as the Premier is finished.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. What people are crying out for isn't more market. They are crying out for government to use intelligent policies to attract and retain jobs in this state. Sadly, for those opposite, once again the world has shifted beneath their feet. This idea of, 'Let's remove the handbrake and let's take our hands off the wheel,' is all over. It's just very old-fashioned. It's all over for you.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Your ideas are completely unpersuasive. That's why they are counting the numbers. That's why they are counting the numbers and thinking about whether they need new leadership because certainly the people of South Australia understand that you are offering nothing. It is empty. It is over for you and your side.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I'm trying to read out the list of warnings and the leader is interrupting my sentencing remarks. These members are called to order: the members for Morphett, Chaffey, Mitchell, Morialta, Hartley, Unley, MacKillop, Davenport, Kavel, Wright, the deputy leader and the Treasurer. These members are warned a first time: the deputy leader and the members for Morialta, Hartley, Chaffey, Mitchell, Morphett and Davenport. These members are warned a second and final time: the leader and the members for Morialta, Hartley, Morphett and Mitchell and the deputy leader.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, I thought so. I didn't catch half of them.