Single Touch Payroll

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:25): My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the chamber on the latest Single Touch Payroll figures?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Treasurer has the call and doesn't need any assistance from his frontbench colleagues.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:25): Mr President, I am sure all members hang out for the fact of the fortnightly release of the Single Touch Payroll figures to see how we are faring, in terms of the pace of economic recovery in South Australia compared to the other states and territories in the nation. I am pleased to be able to report on the latest fortnightly figures released today, which indicate that, again, comparing the most recent figures for the fortnight up to 8 May, so as recent as—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Conversations on my left are not helping.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: They have indicated that, when compared to the low point, which was mid-April 2020 in the COVID pandemic, in terms of impacts on the economy, there has been a 13.8 per cent increase in jobs growth in South Australia, compared to the national figure of 12 per cent. South Australia this time only just trails behind the leading state, which is Western Australia, which had a 14 per cent growth in jobs since mid-April of last year.

South Australia's record, again, is the second largest increase of employee jobs in the state, just behind Western Australia's figure and certainly well ahead of the other states and territories in terms of their measurement. In relation to the second measure of the Single Touch Payroll reports on a fortnightly basis, South Australia's figures were, again, midranking, in terms of employee wages since the depths of the pandemic in April of last year, with 11.2 per cent growth in employee wages.

The national figure is 10 per cent, so it's significantly higher than the national figure. On this occasion, we again trail Western Australia, which is the leader in the clubhouse with a 13.3 per cent increase in employee wages. The Western Australian economy is certainly chugging along pretty well, given all the GST money they have over there—large chunks of our money, I suspect—and also the benefit of commodity prices, such as iron ore royalties, in terms of the impacts on their budget.

Nevertheless, South Australia's figure is still healthily above the national figure of 10 per cent. They are important indicators, as I reported yesterday on the NAB business conditions and business confidence figures. It is important, in terms of monitoring the relative health of the South Australian economic recovery compared to the other states and territories. There are many measures and I am pleased to be able to report again the most recent fortnightly figures.