Question Time

Unemployment Figures

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Does the minister agree with the Premier that it is absolutely disgraceful for South Australia to have the highest unemployment rate in the nation?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:04): The great news for South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, you have asked the question. Let's hear the answer, please.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The great news for South Australia is that employment continues to grow in South Australia. It's growing every single month. One of the things that we are very proud about on this side of the house is that we currently have the record employment rate here in South Australia at the moment. More people are employed in our state at the moment than at any time in the history of South Australia and that is something to celebrate. Since coming to government, we have created in excess of 15,000 jobs in South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in just 17 months, double the rate achieved by those opposite. The good news is there is much more to come because every single one of the policies that we are putting into place is designed to grow the size of our economy, to grow jobs in South Australia, to provide a future for the next generation in our state. That is our focus. That's why earlier this year—in fact, on 1 January this year—we abolished all payroll tax in South Australia for small businesses. Now we have a situation that every single business in this state with a payroll of up to $1½ million pays not a cent. The threshold before was $600,000.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Now a business with a payroll of up to $1.5 million doesn't pay a cent. I will tell you what this is doing: it is inspiring confidence—business confidence, consumer confidence—in South Australia. This is resulting—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in a participation rate that we haven't seen in South Australia for a very, very long period of time. My understanding is the current participation rate is 63.4 per cent, just 0.4 of the per cent off the record participation rate in this state. My goal, our goal, is to smash that participation rate. We want more and more people participating in the turnaround, the recovery which is underway in South Australia. This is a great state. It was let down for a long period of time by people opposite, who were in government with oppressive—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —costs and regulation which were strangling business in this state. Well, it's a new game in town: a government that is focused on delivering for the people of South Australia, delivering for businesses, creating jobs and providing a future for our next generation.

The SPEAKER: The leader will be seated. Before I call the leader, I call to order and I warn the member for Badcoe, the member for West Torrens, the member for Cheltenham, the leader, the members for Playford, Wright, Elizabeth and Mawson. The member for Ramsay is called to order and warned a first time, and I call to order the member for Narungga. The Leader of the Opposition.