Cost of Living

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is again to the Premier. What cost-of-living measures is the government working on for the South Australian community? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: ABS data released this month showed that South Australia's real household disposable income per capita fell 6.8 per cent in the 2022-23 financial year, the worst in the nation. The Premier suggested on ABC radio this morning that the government had already started preparing cost-of-living relief measures for South Australians in the 2024-25 state budget.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:13): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. There is a cost-of-living crisis that exists throughout most Western economies at the moment. Australia is no exception and South Australia is certainly no exception within that. There are a number of measures that the government has already delivered upon to try to provide relief to as many South Australian families as possible.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I mentioned previously the record investment in energy bill relief that has eclipsed any effort that has preceded it. At least—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta, order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —153,000 households and 45,000 small businesses across the state have been the beneficiaries of that relief. Of course, the government has also delivered reduced CTP premiums for South Australian road users throughout the course of this year. We were able to keep the increase in SA Water fees and charges below the rate of inflation. Similarly, with other fees and charges, we have increased them in such a way that is below the rate of inflation. When it comes to taxation policy, which informs people's capacity to spend on other elements in their life, this government has done something that is very, very distinct from the practice of the former Liberal government, as we haven't increased fees and charges, we haven't concocted—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta is warned. Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —brand-new taxes out of thin air after promising to do the opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: A very different—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta, order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I note the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I note that the member for Morialta interjects suggesting that things are going badly. I would simply make this point that this government is very conscious of the fact that there are people in our community who are hurting at the moment as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. But we are also very grateful for the fact that the South Australian economy is better placed than any other in the nation at the moment to be able to withstand those pressures.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: There are a range of metrics that are independently assessed—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that point to the strength of the performance of the South Australian economy, which again is very, very different to what we saw from the government prior. The other thing I will mention about the cost of living is that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta is on two warnings.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: In respect of the cost of living, it isn't just about putting downward pressure on prices and fees. It's also incomes that matter to people. On this side of the house we have a very firm view that if we can support workers by growing their incomes, that matters. We know again this is very distinct from those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Even the modest proposition—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton! Member for Newland!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —to make Easter Sunday a public holiday—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Wright!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —so that people working throughout the course of Easter—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —can access the public holiday penalty rates. What do those opposite propose?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What do those opposite propose when we want to make Easter Sunday a public holiday?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: They said, 'No, no, no, we have to stop Easter Saturday from being a public holiday.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Elder!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: On this side of the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —we are keeping—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —pressures low on costs and we are increasing incomes for people who deserve it most in our community who are servicing you—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —on public holidays. We stand for growing wages—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —you stand for reducing them.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Morialta is on a final warning, member for Colton on a first, member for Florey joining on two, and the member for Newland warned.