Unemployment Figures

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. Given that Professor Nicola Spurrier and Commissioner Grant Stevens have done such an outstanding job leading our state through the health crisis, why is it that South Australia has the worst unemployment rate in the nation and the worst youth unemployment rate in the nation by some margin?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:11): South Australia also has very good statistics when we look at the pay-as-you-go Single Touch data series. There are more jobs in South Australia than pre COVID and more wages paid than pre COVID. They are the statistics that were released only earlier this week, but as per usual the deep opposition of the person who goes by the slogan Meet Pete has made sure that everything he talks about is talking South Australia down.

The people of South Australia have had enough. The people of South Australia are feeling positive about what we have achieved. And, yes, quite right, they have been working with Nicola Spurrier and, quite right, they have been working with the police commissioner, but they have been working with the government to deliver good outcomes for the people of our state.

And I will go through it again: in February, 6,600 more people were employed than in January and 4,700 new people coming into the jobs market. The participation rate is increasing because the confidence is high. There is still much more work to be done.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are continuing to provide payroll tax relief, which has been a major contributor to our increased business confidence, our increased consumer confidence that we have in South Australia. There is more work to done. We are up to that task.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the deputy leader, I warn the member for Schubert. I call to order and warn the Minister for Education. There is no occasion to characterise the nature of a question. A question is either in order or it's not. The member asking the question is entitled to be heard in asking the question, as the minister is in answering it.