Unemployment Figures

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. With the highest unemployment rate in the country, including more than 25,000 young South Australians unemployed, does the minister agree with the Premier's statement that there is no problem whatsoever with unemployment in South Australia?

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order. Leader, be seated for one moment. The point of order is for the fact that there might be facts that have been introduced into the answer. On a number of occasions, I have asked for those kinds of points of order to be left to the end of the answer so that I can judge the context.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee, you can leave for 25 minutes under 137A, thank you.

The honourable member for Lee having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: I will listen to the leader's answer. I ask him to take standing orders into consideration. They do exist to keep members on the straight and narrow. I don't want to be over the top with their enforcement, obviously, so I am going to allow the leader an opportunity to ask his question and then I will judge accordingly. Leader.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: My question again was to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. With the highest unemployment rate in the country and more than 25,000 young South Australians unemployed, does the minister agree with the Premier's statement that there is no problem whatsoever with unemployment in South Australia?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir: leave not having been sought nor granted for any of that to be put in the question, that question is out of order.

The SPEAKER: Because of the fact that it has been introduced?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Facts, arguments—the entire structure is completely alien to the rules of this house.

The SPEAKER: Yes. I am going to uphold that point of order. The leader can move on to another question. If not, I will swap to the other side. Leader.