State Economy

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain to the house why South Australia continues to record the worst economic performance in the nation? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: South Australia has the lowest quarterly state final demand growth in the nation. South Australia currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and South Australia has recorded the lowest economic growth in the nation for the most recent financial year.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:14): I thank the member for his excellent question. As per usual, the opposition love to talk down the state and they love to cherrypick individual statistics, which, quite frankly, don't—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —bear any relationship to exactly and precisely what is going on.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As the member would be more than aware, in the December quarter last year we actually had a very serious situation in South Australia.

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Playford!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: In fact, it was such a significant incident with regard to the Parafield cluster that we had to close down the entire economy for three full days. Of course, there were very significant restrictions during that period as well. When we look at the statistics that were contained within that, we know that in the September quarter South Australia had 6.7 per cent growth. I think this was the highest in the entire nation. Those opposite failed to point that out. In fact, when we look at the December quarter—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —last year compared to the December quarter for the year before—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —which would be, I think, a fair comparison, we were actually balanced. So before COVID and after COVID, exactly the same state final demand figures. I think in some ways it goes to the heart of what's going on here. On this side of the house, we are wanting to back businesses in South Australia, we want to back employment in South Australia and we want to grow our economy. We are doing that through lowering taxes, supporting people with a good, comprehensive strategy to address the coronavirus. Those opposite want to find opportunities to talk down the state at every single opportunity. Quite frankly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —I think the people of South Australia are finding it more and more negative. That is why now no longer see the Leader of the Opposition in the media anymore; he has vacated the joint. He is sending out the two deputies here—no, sorry, not you; these two deputies here—who are out there, doing all the grubby work, all the negative work. The fact of the matter is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will resume his seat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! When the interjections—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The leader will cease interjecting. The member for West Torrens rises on a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 98: 22 members are enjoying a lot of debate, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I've just got some information. I would like to update the house. In fact, in its December quarter, state final demand in South Australia rose by 0.6 per cent, on top of a massive rise in the September quarter. They hate good news. They absolutely hate good news. When we look at those figures—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —when we look at those, what happened in Victoria compared to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will resume his seat for a moment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is called to order and warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left and members on my right, the member for Lee has asked the Premier a question. The Premier is entitled to be heard in silence in answering the question. I am listening intently to that answer. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Those opposite were asking, 'What about Victoria? What about New South Wales?' In fact, I have some statistics for you. When we compare the December quarter last year with the December quarter of the previous year, South Australia is unchanged. What is the situation in Victoria? It is a decline of 3.4 per cent. In New South Wales, it is a decline of 0.7 per cent. In fact, the gross domestic final demand for the entire nation is down by 0.3 per cent.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: South Australia is completely and utterly unchanged. Of course, those opposite are comparing the situation December to September. As I pointed out, South Australia for the September quarter was doing comparatively well to the entire country, in fact the entire world, with a 6.7 per cent surge. Most people would get pretty excited about those statistics but not those opposite. They hate good news. They love to talk down the state. Keep up that work. Keep it up all the way to the next election, because what the people of South Australia want is to see this state do well.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the leader, I call to order the member for Schubert, I call to order the member for Chaffey, I call to order the member for Cheltenham, I call to order and warn the member for Playford, I call to order the member for Ramsay, I call to order the member for Lee, I call to order the leader and I call to order the Minister for Education, and I remind members on both sides that the member asking the question is entitled to be heard in silence and the minister in answering the question is entitled to be heard in silence.