Unemployment Figures

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:40): I seek leave to make a brief statement before asking the Minister for Employment a question about unemployment.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: A report released yesterday by the Brotherhood of St Laurence reveals that youth unemployment is at 13.5 per cent, with underemployment at 18 per cent—the highest it has been in 40 years. South Australia, unfortunately, takes the mantle of worst in the nation, with 16.1 per cent of 15 to 24 year olds unemployed. This state lost 8,700 full-time jobs in February, and statistics show that nearly 156,000 South Australians are either unemployed or underemployed. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does he find these figures acceptable?

2. What is the government doing to tackle youth unemployment and underemployment, particularly in parts of Adelaide's north?

3. How is his government proposing to improve these figures?

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) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for her questions and her interest in this area. There are a number of measures of unemployment, most notably the monthly release by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of the unemployment figures, as well as any number of other reports or statistics that other organisations release. Any unemployment is of concern to us all. We would like to see as many people who want to work are afforded the dignity that a job provides them, and I think we all share that sentiment in this chamber.

The ABS stats show that in South Australia over 80 per cent of young people, as defined by the ABS as 15 to 24 years old, are either employed or are studying full-time. That is around, in South Australia, nearly 190,000 young people out of a population of 216,000 that are either employed or in full-time study, but of course, as I think the honourable member mentioned, the recent Brotherhood of St Laurence report looked at those who might be employed but are looking for more work.

I am sure we would all like people who want a job or want more hours to have the best possible chance to do that. What we are seeing in recent times are reasons for optimism for employment in South Australia. I know the Liberal Party hates that—they hate that. They will South Australia to do poorly—that's in their DNA. They want us to do badly. They talk us down; they want South Australia to do badly. This is the problem—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: This is the problem, Mr President. If ever the people of this state are unfortunate enough to have them inflicted upon us as a government, they won't be able to make that switch. They want South Australia to do badly. The fact of the matter is that, for the last 18 months, month after month after month, we have seen employment growth in this state. Every month for the last 18 months more people in South Australia are employed than in the last month.

That is a fact: a fact that I know the Liberal Party here hate. They like talking down South Australia, they like us to do badly, and they will us to do badly. We don't share that same view and pessimism for South Australia's people. We don't share their view. We're putting in place policies that seek to bring out the best in South Australia.

The honourable member talked about particular areas that are facing higher unemployment rates than others. In our northern suburbs we launched a $24 million Northern Economic Plan, part of which directly addresses youth engagement; it looks at providing jobs as well. Our recent $2 million announcement of the ZF Lemformer bus, with Precision Components—50 jobs that would not be there if it was not for that investment. Over a whole range of areas we are doing everything we can to make sure that people who want jobs are afforded the dignity that works provides.