Question Time

Regional Employment

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about regional skills and regional unemployment.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The agrifood industry is the biggest contributor to the state's economy, and it counts for almost a fifth of the total workforce in South Australia. The state depends upon agriculture for both food security and export earnings, and it is in need of a robust, intelligent and thriving workforce. In recent years, however, there has been a significant drop in agricultural enrolments, despite a large number of employment opportunities in the sector. The decline in applications for agriculture courses is a long-term national trend and the problems need to be faced by government.

With an ageing workforce, both on and off the farm, the agriculture industry is in desperate need of an injection of young, fresh and intelligent workers. Unfortunately this is not happening, and young people are increasingly not choosing agricultural careers. The University of Adelaide, for example, was forced to merge its Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science) due to declining enrolments, and around Australia there has been a 40 per cent decline in agricultural graduates; this is despite there being around four full-time jobs for every graduate, with significant opportunities in a dynamic range of rewarding careers.

I noticed today the ABS figures for regional unemployment and regional employment in South Australia. In May this year, there were 1,400 jobs lost in regional South Australia, there were almost 4,000 people unemployed in regional South Australia, and South Australia's regional unemployment rate increased from 6.1 per cent to 8 per cent in May 2014. This was the worst jobless rate in all the nation. My questions to the minister are:

1. After 12 years of a Labor government, why does regional unemployment continue to rise?

2. Again, after 12 years of a Labor government, why are young people not choosing careers in agriculture or food and wine, given that the government has a strategy of premium food and wine from a clean environment?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Indeed, the employment figures for regional Australia came out earlier today and they are disappointing for South Australia, I have to say. It is not surprising given that there was a slight increase in the unemployment rate for South Australia in last month's figures and now, with the regional figures being released today, it is not surprising that they too are following suit. There has been a small deterioration there, as well.

It is interesting to note, however, that we did have an improvement in employment for Western Adelaide and also for Southern Adelaide. For those two regions, there was a slight improvement. It was also interesting to note that—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Western Adelaide—is that a region? Where does it come from?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It is in the Greater Adelaide region. The Hon. David Ridgway should actually read these reports accurately.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Is that regional—west of Adelaide? Western Adelaide?

The PRESIDENT: The honourable opposition leader, could you please allow the minister to complete her answer in silence?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The unemployment rates that were released today come out for Greater Adelaide. In Greater Adelaide, there are four regions—Central Adelaide & Hills, Northern Adelaide, Southern Adelaide and Western Adelaide and the regional figures are broken down to those regions accordingly. Then, for Regional South Australia, it is broken down into Barossa, Yorke & Mid North, Outback SA, and South Eastern South Australia. The Hon. David Ridgway should read these reports and he would know these figures. This is the regional data released today. It was interesting to note that—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He doesn't even understand it. He doesn't even understand what the definition of regions is.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, will you sit down?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You have one hour to ask your questions. We don't want to waste it with this bantering across the chamber. It is disrespectful, for a start, to the person giving the answer.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: It doesn't matter what side of the chamber you are sitting on. I think you should have respect for the person on their feet. The honourable minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President. It is obvious that the Hon. David Ridgway has not read the report, but it is interesting to note that the other little bit of good news in the report is that the regions for Central Adelaide & Hills, Western Adelaide and also South Eastern South Australia were all below the state average for unemployment, so that is pleasing to see.

Obviously this government is focused on jobs and ensuring that all South Australians are afforded the opportunity to undertake meaningful employment wherever they live. Those opposite look to find the most sensational, negative aspect of the data that they possibly can. They thrive on talking down South Australia. They thrive on bagging this state. They thrive on undermining consumer confidence. They delight in undermining business confidence. They absolutely thrive on talking down and bagging this state incessantly. Well, this government does not do that. We make sure that we focus on the positives and work on those areas that need further attention.

When we look at the South Australian regional data, I think it is also very important that we see that the sample sizes are very small and that we know that those rates can be very volatile. They move around a great deal because of their very small sample size, so we have to be careful at looking at those month-to-month figures. It is important that we step back and take a broader picture, but it is interesting to note that there are over 18,000 more people in jobs in regional South Australia than when this government came into power, including more than 11,000 full-time jobs. So 18,000 more people in jobs in regional South Australia than what the previous Liberal government could achieve.

Be assured that this government will continue to work with business, industry and local communities to attract investment and to create regional jobs, harder though this will be given the savage federal Liberal budget cuts which have ripped out $400 million in funding from apprentices, vocational training and higher services; $400 million that this federal Liberal government has ripped out of our education system over the next four years. It equates to about 20,000 training positions—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Allow the minister to complete her answer in silence please.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It equates to about 20,000 training positions, and about 5,000 of those training positions would be in regions, so that is the sort of impact that it is likely to have on our regions. If this opposition is really serious about jobs in regions—we know that training and education is a critical pathway to jobs—then what have they done about lobbying their federal Liberal colleagues to replace that funding to our training, education, apprenticeships and higher education? What have they done? What do we hear? Nothing, complete silence. They have done absolutely nothing to lobby their federal Liberal colleagues about replacing those precious funds for our training needs, so they are hypocrites, that is what they are, absolute hypocrites.

We will keep fighting for this funding, that $400 million that the federal Liberal government has ripped out of our training and education system. We will keep fighting for that funding and we will keep fighting for South Australian students and job seekers, and we will keep our shoulders to the wheel with industry and training providers to grow skills and jobs in regions.

Our jobs and skills policy sets out a strong strategy for further job creation and reinforces our continued commitment to education and training. This includes direct support for job creation and new initiatives to work more closely with industry to identify emerging job opportunities in local communities. This financial year this government is investing more than $94 million in training, employment and industry initiatives in regional South Australia. We are investing $20 million in skills for jobs in regions over three years to create 14,000 local jobs. As I said, although it is disappointing to see this month's figures for regions, nevertheless we have a clear jobs strategy to ensure that we have a strong future and jobs for all in regions.