Grievance Debate

State Labor Government

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (15:12): Well, what can I say: the cracks are really starting to show in this state Labor government—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: —and the cracks are starting to show in this economy, and they do not like hearing it. They do not like hearing it. What have we seen today? We have seen two ministers abandon ship. The ides of March have come early for South Australia, let me tell you. Our economy is bleeding. The alarm bells are deafening. And today it was revealed that South Australia's unemployment rate is now the highest in the nation under Labor: the highest unemployment rate in the nation under Labor.

We are seeing the worst debt in South Australia's history, we are seeing the worst ramping crisis in South Australia's history, and we are starting to see that we have got a wafer-thin veneer—it is this Premier, and then there is nothing underneath him. There is absolutely nothing underneath him, and today we have seen two jump ship.

Unemployment spiked by six points in August to 4.9 per cent; 50,000 people are now looking for work and unable to find it, according to the latest figures. These are the highest numbers since the COVID period. We have not seen these unemployment figures since COVID. Can you believe it? It is concerning to say the least.

Yesterday Jobs and Skills Australia data showed online job ads in South Australia have also fallen for the month of August. They are down nearly 3 per cent. It spells more bad news for our labour market in the months to come. Furthermore, net interstate migration again was negative for the March quarter. More people continue to leave South Australia than come here from around Australia. The brain drain is well and truly back under this Labor government. NAB's monthly business survey also reveals SA again had the weakest business confidence in the nation in August.

The Premier says he has known about these resignations for several weeks. But what has he done? Because we know that he cares more about PR than people he decides today, on a day which shows South Australia as having the worst unemployment rate in the nation, to drop this. I mean, does he really think that the people of South Australia are stupid?

Where is Labor's plan to restore confidence and momentum to the economy? Where is Labor's plan in terms of managing this harmful algal crisis? He could not tell us today, despite knowing that this minister was going to resign for several weeks. He could not tell us who was responsible for the harmful algal bloom going into summer and going into the election, and still we do not have a summer plan—unbelievable.

What is the Premier doing? Playing Caesar. Dishing out bread and circuses—events, festivals, photoshops, two overseas trips. It must be nice if you can get it. Well, guess what? The numbers are in, and it turns out you cannot run an economy on events alone. The numbers do not lie, unlike this government, and today's job reports reveal that the emperor has got no clothes. Look at the betrayal: worst debt in state history, COVID-like unemployment. What is he doing? They are abandoning ship. They say that they have got so much depth. Well, clearly the backbench is getting to them. Clearly, they have been plotting and scheming.

The member for Elizabeth laughs. I think he has got a new suit and a new haircut. What can I say? He wants to hear it. He says, 'More of it.' He is not abandoning ship, he cannot wait. What about the environment minister abandoning her post amidst the worst coastal ecological disaster that we have seen in this state. Coincidence? I do not think so.

Everywhere you look it is bad news for hardworking South Australians. What happened to power bills? They have gone up by nearly $800 since the March state election. What happened to that hydrogen vanity project? Nothing to be shown for it. Millions and millions of dollars down the drain. What is left for groceries? We are now the second least affordable capital city in the nation to buy and the least affordable to rent a house. It does not all exactly inspire confidence, does it?

Marine life has been washing up along our coastline for months, there are 50,000 people looking for work, business insolvencies are up and record hours have been lost to ramping, not one month, not two months, not three months—39 months of the worst ramping in South Australia's history. Millions and millions have been blown on a hydrogen flop, power bills are up and houses you cannot afford. Where does it all lead? I can go on and on.

Amongst it all, the government blows millions and millions of taxpayer dollars on this Orwellian hydrogen vanity project scheme and government ads—$2.2 million on SA is Building ads. Building what? They are building a mirage, that is what they are building. This is not governance, it is a tragedy worthy of the Colosseum. Our state's economy is calling out for help, because at the moment we have got unaffordable homes, unpayable bills, businesses on their knees, our people are fleeing, and Labor's response is more circuses, more spin and more betrayal.

South Australians deserve better. We need a new Liberal government to rebuild this state, not as a footnote in history but as a powerhouse. We will fight for jobs, not headlines; for homes and not hype; for South Australians and not against them. It is time to cast out this failing regime and restore South Australia's glory.