Job Creation

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:09): My question again is to the Premier. Why has the number of jobs in South Australia gone backwards since the delivery of this year's state budget?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:09): As I said, we are working very hard—harder than ever—to create more jobs here in South Australia. We know that there is a lot of uncertainty in global markets, in national markets, here in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are not shirking our responsibility, but there's got to be recognition about the environment—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in which we are operating. We know that this uncertainty is creating some issues for employers not just here in South Australia or nationally but also internationally at the moment, and that is why it's critical—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to have a government—

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Ramsay!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —with a backbone, not a government that falls apart every time there are some difficult conditions.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The reality is that the people of South Australia have elected us into government—

Ms Stinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to create better economic conditions. Let me say, this is a test—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —between the two parties. The first opposition to any difficult economic conditions—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and those opposite go to water, talk down the state, talk down South Australia here in the media, interstate, even nationally, telling people that things are a disaster in South Australia. The reality is that we have created thousands of jobs since we came to government and we have only just started.

The future is very bright here in South Australia. This morning, sir, you might be interested to know that I was with our federal cities minister. I was working with him and local government to present the implementation plan for Lot Fourteen—a fantastic facility that is going to create many, many more jobs here in South Australia. That is our focus, and we will continue to work on it every day that we are in government.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the leader, unfortunately I must intervene and call the following members to order: the member for Playford, who has been doing it all day; the member for Kaurna; the member for Badcoe; and the member for Hurtle Vale.