Question Time

State Budget

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain how increasing rent for Housing Trust tenants, privatising prisons and hospital services, increasing state debt by more than $3.3 billion and closing Service SA centres, TAFEs and bus routes will deliver more jobs, lower costs and better services?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:08): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. He stumbled over our slogan. I hope he doesn't forget our slogan—'More jobs, lower costs and better services'—because that's exactly and precisely—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —what we took to the people of South Australia. Every time you go to an election it's an opportunity for the people of South Australia to decide who they want to govern them. And guess what they decided? They said they wanted more jobs, lower costs and better services—they elected us. It was a vote of confidence. It was a great vote of confidence in what we took to the election. It was also a vote of no confidence in what we had had for 16 years in South Australia: hopeless and dysfunctional government at every opportunity, increasing the burdens on individuals, families, and businesses in South Australia. Let me tell you, sir—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the people of South Australia voted for a government that made commitments, and we were delighted when we brought down our very first budget on Tuesday this week to implement each and every single one of those commitments. And that contrasts very distinctly with what we have seen from those opposite over the last 16 years. Usually, the budget headline in The Advertiser immediately after an election says, 'Horror budget'. What did The Advertiser say this time? The government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: This is a government which is implementing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —each and every one of its commitments.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And I am proud—proud to be leading a government which has brought forward a range of benefits for the people of South Australia. Let me tell you about just some of them. I think one of the most important things that we are addressing in our budget is the massive skills problem that we were left in South Australia by the previous government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They should hang their heads in shame.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They are too gutless to ask a single question about TAFE—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —because what did they leave us with? A complete and utter catastrophe.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The member for Port Adelaide, the former minister for education, presided over not only a disaster in education, not only a disaster in child protection, but also a complete and utter disaster in TAFE. What did Labor do? They promoted her. They made her the deputy leader of their parliamentary party.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: personal reflection, sir—out of order.

The SPEAKER: Personal reflections—

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I was only highlighting, sir, the honourable member's—

The SPEAKER: Sorry, Premier. Member for West Torrens—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! What was the personal reflection amongst the shouting? I missed it.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Mr Speaker, the question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —was very specifically about the budget.

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: And the Premier has reflected on members personally. It's pretty obvious.

The SPEAKER: So the point of order is debate?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes.

The SPEAKER: Okay. I will listen carefully. Before I rule, I have noted a number of members making interjections during the Premier's answer, so I call to order—who? I will tell you: the members for Mawson, Lee, the leader, the member for Wright, the member for Badcoe, the member for West Torrens, the member for Playford, the member for Reynell and, especially, the Minister for Education. I will listen carefully. Premier, if you are winding up your remarks I ask that you do stick to the substance of the question. Thank you, Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you, very much, sir. The Leader of the Opposition asked questions about the core things that we took to the election: more jobs, lower costs and better services. I am presenting to this house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —our credentials that were brought down in our budget on Tuesday. Let me tell you about more jobs. On 1 January next year, we will wipe out payroll tax for every single small business in South Australia. Every business with a payroll of up to $1.5 million will not pay a cent—will not pay a cent. It is all designed to create jobs. Before the election, when we were talking about reducing payroll tax, those opposite were saying, 'You're just looking after your mates in the employment sector. They are just going to trouser the money.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Now, of course, they have jumped on board. Well, good on you. At least you have made a decision in that area. Also, in terms of jobs, we are going to create 20,800 new apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia. This is a massive investment in the future of South Australia. Those opposite neglected our future generation with their hopeless mismanagement of TAFE and vocational education and training—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —not those on this side of the house. There's only a few more moments, but I will address the issue of lower costs. I was stopped last night at a function for the Magarey Medal count by a lady who said to me, 'I have never voted Liberal before. I voted for you this time. I opened up my ESL bill. It was halved.' She said, 'Thank you. Finally, a government that's doing what they said they were going to do.'

The SPEAKER: The medal was won by a member of the Norwood Football Club, Premier, I know as well. The member for Lee.