Small Business

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:55): My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, can you comment on the results of the Sensis small business survey regarding small business confidence in South Australia?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:55): I am sure all members in this chamber, irrespective of their political flavour, hue or complexion would have been delighted to have seen the reports this morning about the Sensis small and medium-sized business index survey. There is no doubting that everyone would concede that South Australia is built on the backbone of small and medium-sized businesses. For a variety of reasons, the number of big businesses or large businesses and large employers has never been and continues to not be a significant employer in South Australia. South Australia is largely dependent on its small and medium-sized businesses.

The Sensis survey publicity today: I think the encouraging parts were the report that confidence in the small and medium-sized business sector in South Australia climbed nine points to their index of +45, which was the strongest result since December 2013. Further on, the key small business index finding for South Australia was that South Australia has become the most optimistic state in terms of its view of the economy, up 22 points to +30. As I said, I think irrespective of your political view, I'm sure all members in this chamber, even members of the Labor Party, would be delighted and encouraged that small business confidence, small business views about the future directions of the economy and small business views about even the new government have taken such a lift in the last few months.

I hesitated to even read out this particular part of the press release from Sensis but I guess in terms of accuracy I should read it out, so I add no personal comment myself, lest I be accused of lack of humility—and that is I, on behalf of the government, not I personally. Let me quote the Sensis paragraph and then I think I need say no more:

A standout result was a 37-point rise in support for the SA Government—elected into office in April 2018 and ending 16 years of Labor government in the state. This saw a net rating of +18—the highest score we have on record for SA. The outgoing government was the least popular in the nation last quarter while the new government is second most popular this quarter, behind the state government of Tasmania.