State Economy

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:22): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on the South Australian economy?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:22): I want to thank the member for Mawson for following the theme of the questions that have come before.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I suspect the member for Mawson, when he asked the question, was particularly concerned about people in his electorate having a job, which all of us on this side of the house have a stern commitment to. I've got to say it is a good day for the people of Australia. It is good day for the people of South Australia because today for the first time in our state's amazing history we have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation—and not by a little bit. We have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation by a very long way.

It wasn't that long ago when we were in this place concerned about the prospect of people being out of work. We had members opposite predicting double-digit unemployment and predicting that the state was in all sorts of trouble with the loss of Holden and what have you, but yet here we are seeing a complete reversal of position, where no longer is the rest of the nation laughing at us. We are smiling at them because we have the best performing economy in the nation. We have more people in work than ever before. We have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation and the lowest unemployment rate in the history of the state.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: It is 3.2 per cent.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Flinders! Member for Florey!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: People watching question time online or in the public gallery must be thinking, 'What on earth are those opposite complaining about?'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What are they wailing about? They should be basking, like every other business owner, in the success that this state has provided.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Schubert!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: This hasn't just happened—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: This is not an accident. Yes, it is true that a lot of business owners have made active investment, taken on risk, put in jeopardy their own capital in the name of the state's growth. We acknowledge them. We thank them. They should be proud of their efforts. But government policy has made a contribution to this too. In fact, I was a little alarmed that the would-be treasurer of South Australia, the alternative treasurer of the state, when he was trying to find a way on FIVEaa radio—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —to put a bit of a dampener on having the best unemployment rate in the history of South Australia and the nation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: He tried to suggest, quote: 'This is the time of the year where we have a lot of casual work coming to South Australia based on the time of the year with our events schedule.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Florey!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: They can't work out if they are Arthur or Martha. Are they for events making a positive difference for our economy or are they against them? Do they like Gather Round or do they hate LIV? I can't work it out. The shadow treasurer is right to, of course, acknowledge that events have a role to play in driving up jobs growth, but the most concerning element is the fact that the shadow treasurer does not understand the nature of seasonally adjusted figures, which of course by their nature factor in various aberrations we might see occur in the economy because of events.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The good news for the shadow treasurer is that it is all good. This isn't an unemployment rate because of a seasonal event; this is an unemployment rate because the state is going well. It is going places. We have a plan for the future—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey! Member for Flinders!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We are making sure that it is not growth just for growth's sake—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and for the sake of people in South Australia, regardless of their skill level, we are making sure they have a place in the employment market, because all work provides dignity and we are making sure everyone's got it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Chaffey is on three warnings, joined by the member for Colton. The member for Morialta is already on three warnings, and the member for West Torrens is warned.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Warned, member for West Torrens. The member for Florey is also on three warnings.