State Budget

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:18): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier stand by his comments delivered after last year's budget, that Treasury's default employment growth figure is 1 per cent?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:18): I don't have access to that information. Can you quote it again, thanks?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Sure. Does the Premier stand by his comments last year, after the delivery of last year's budget, that Treasury's default employment growth figure is 1 per cent per annum?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I don't have the information with regard to the context of that quote, but what I can say is that the budget—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —which was handed down yesterday, seems to be upsetting them so much. I don't know why they are so upset about it because it has been very well regarded by the people of South Australia, who want a government that is going to lean in and support them during difficult times.

Sir, I know that you support a bit of compare and contrast, so I think it's only fair for us to look at the last time we had a major economic problem that confronted this state, this country and the world: the global financial crisis. Those opposite were in government. What did they do? Did they put in massive economic stimulus? Absolutely not. They sacked public servants, they cut budgets and they postponed or cancelled capital projects. This is like pulling the handbrake on an economy just when your economy and your people need you the most. So, by contrast, we wear this as a badge of honour, spending money—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned for a second time.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —at a time when we know the interest rates are at historic lows, absolutely historic lows. This is exactly and precisely the right time to borrow money to invest in jobs, and that's what our jobs budget yesterday was all about.