Unemployment Figures

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier update the house on our state's performance in relation to unemployment figures over the past four years and what opportunities there are for improvement?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:13): I thank the member for Colton for his question. The answer is: there are plenty of opportunities for improving our performance in terms of creating more jobs in South Australia. In fact, if we look at where South Australia has been over the last four years, as the member asked, it's a pretty pitiful set of numbers. Between the 2014 election and the 2018 election, Australia did extraordinarily well. In fact, when I look at those numbers, Australia created almost a million new jobs—in fact, 954,000 new jobs nationwide.

The question that we need to ask ourselves, as members of this parliament, is: did we achieve our pro rata entitlement in terms of those jobs that were created around the entire country? The answer to that is no. The answer is no because those opposite were in government, they had a very casual attitude towards creating new jobs in South Australia and they failed the people of South Australia.

Let me tell you how they performed. Let me tell you that, during that four-year period, South Australia created just a pitiful 35,800 jobs or 3.7 per cent of the jobs that were created in our country. Whilst those opposite want to beat their chest and get all excited about their performance in the very last month that they were in power—as if this were some great accomplishment over their 16 years of government—the reality is that they failed the people of this state.

We won't do that. By contrast, we will work diligently every single day. We will be applying ourselves, not to when golf is played but to the real issues of this parliament, issues like lowering the burden on businesses in this state. As you would be aware, sir, we have already announced a very positive policy to remove payroll tax for all small business in South Australia. Businesses that have a payroll of up to $1½ million will not pay a cent in payroll tax, that tax on jobs, under this government. I can't wait for 1 January to tick around so that we can remove that burden.

More than that, we will be creating almost 21,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia. We know that by doing this we will create jobs. We will give the next generation hope. They will stay in South Australia rather than exiting our state at the end of school or at the end of university when, under the previous government, they could not find a job. Jobs are critical to the Liberal Party. We are really enjoying our time on this side of the house because we want to implement the positive policies that will create the environment to create more jobs and not lag behind the rest of Australia.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, I call to order the Minister for Police and I warn for the first time the leader, the member for West Torrens and also the Minister for Police.

Mr Koutsantonis: I didn't say anything.

The SPEAKER: You have been saying things.