Public Sector Employment

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment a question regarding the government's forced redundancy targets.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: In late 2014, the federal government introduced its new policy for allowing forced redundancy of surplus public servants after a 12-month period. The government said this policy, detailed in Determination 7, would signal the end of 'departure lounges' in departments for long-term surplus employees. However, it was recently reported in The Advertiser, following evidence at a Budget and Finance Committee, that after two years not one single employee has been retrenched from the Department of State Development, despite the department having 36 excess employees. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister explain the current status of the 36 excess employees?

2. What job responsibilities have they been given?

3. Will the minister commit to conducting a review of this policy to address concerns that a significant amount of taxpayers' money is being wasted in keeping excess employees, particularly when there is no permanent position for them?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:06): I thank the honourable member for her questions. Generally matters to do with employment, conditions and policy within the public sector are the responsibility of the public sector minister, and I am happy to take those questions that deal with elements of the public sector on notice and refer them to the Minister for the Public Sector.

On the topic of employment generally, I am pleased to report more generally in South Australia some very pleasing news today about employment. The release of the ABS monthly employment figures show that South Australia dropped on the headline unemployment rate 0.3 per cent. That is a drop on the headline unemployment over the last 12 months of 1.2 per cent.

The difference between South Australia and the national average is now half of what it was 12 months ago. Only the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have better unemployment rates of states than South Australia now. The number of hours worked by South Australians this month compared to this month last year has grown by 1.7 million hours. That is a growth rate of 1.6 per cent. That is almost triple the national average.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: That growth rate is almost triple the national average—and we have members on the other side interjecting. They will South Australia to do poorly. It is in their DNA, it has been for the decade and a half that they have been in opposition.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: They want nothing more than South Australia to do badly. They hate it when we do well. Last week, the National Australia Bank had business confidence in South Australia better than the rest of—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Stephens, honestly! It is embarrassing from this position watching you behave like that. You are far better than that, so allow the honourable minister to finish. Have you finished?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Thank you, Mr President, and I am glad the Hon. Terry Stephens has finished 'embarrassing' himself in his seat over there—1.7 million more hours work this month than this time a year ago. As I was saying, that growth rate is 1.6 per cent, which is nearly three times the national average growth rate of hours worked of 0.6 per cent over the last year. Despite the Hon. Terry Stephens wanting the worst for South Australia, willing the state to do poorly, we do not. On this side, we are optimistic about South Australia. We think the best of South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —and we have been going well in the last year and we want to see that continue, despite what the Hon. Terry Stephens wants for this state.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! It is more than 60 million minutes! The Hon. Ms Lee, supplementary.