Unemployment Figures

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. Why has the participation rate declined since this year's state budget?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:11): The participation rate moves around a lot.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The reality is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —that we would always like to see the participation rate increase, absolutely increase, and that's one of the reasons why we are working very hard to create more opportunities for long-term unemployed people here in South Australia. It is one of the reasons why my good friend—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the Minister for Innovation and Skills in South Australia has been working very hard to create more apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia, and a lot of people in South Australia love this policy. Some people hate it—and we know who those people are. They hate good news. They hate the fact that we are fixing up the mess that they created.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They hate the fact that we are dealing with the mess that we inherited of the completely inept management of TAFE presided over by the deputy leader. The new minister responsible, the Minister for Education in South Australia, has put more than $100 million into the budget of TAFE in South Australia and fixed the quality standards, which were left in tatters by those members opposite. The Minister for Innovation and Skills has put $200 million—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —back into the budget to create 20,800 new apprenticeships and traineeships. I love the fact that earlier this week we got a report from the independent umpire, the NCVER, and what did it show? A 28.8 per cent increase in the number of people who had commenced apprenticeships or traineeships here in South Australia, and isn't that good news?

Isn't it good news that young people are getting a start in a profession that is going to lead to a job outcome? This is the change that has been implemented in South Australia over the last 19 months—putting money into critical areas that are going to grow our economy, create more jobs, more apprenticeships, more traineeships—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and make sure that we can make South Australia a more prosperous place.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Flinders, the answer of the Premier may entertain or irritate the opposition, but that is not an excuse to carry on like that. Consequently, I call to order the member for West Torrens. The member for Badcoe is warned, and the member for Elizabeth is called to order for excessive gesticulation. The member for Flinders.