Interstate Migration

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (14:35): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer please outline to the house recent figures on net interstate migration and how they compare to the record prior to 2018?

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:36): I'm sure all members will be delighted to hear the answer to the honourable member's question. In relation to the net interstate migration figures—that is, a comparison of how many people are fleeing our state compared to how many people are coming into our state—we are delighted to be able to say that—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —under the most recent 12-month figures through to the June quarter of 2021, there were more people coming into South Australia than fleeing South Australia to go to other states. That number was 704.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Under the former Labor government, for the period from the March quarter of 2014 to the December quarter of 2017, their four years—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hanson, put your mask back on.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: We can hear them squealing like stuck pigs over there. They don't want to hear the record of their government, but they are going to hear it.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: They will take their medicine, as they should. Their record, under the former Labor government for that four-year period—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —on an annual basis, was that annually 5,807 more people fled South Australia to find jobs in other states than were attracted to South Australia during that particular four-year period. That was the sad, sorry, disgraceful record of the former Labor government: almost 6,000 people a year more fleeing the state of South Australia, seeking desperately job opportunities, whereas in the last 12 months—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter and the Hon. Mr Hanson, enough!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —actually more people being attracted to the economic growth, the job growth prospects, a record low unemployment rate—the lowest ever on record at 3.9 per cent—and the fastest growing economy in the nation at 3.9 per cent, the first time ever since records have been collected that we have had the fastest growing economy in the nation. The sad and sorry record, as I said, is almost 6,000 a year more fleeing the state than this year, 704 more people coming into the state because of the changed direction and the vision for the future that the Marshall Liberal government has provided to them.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Pangallo is on his feet.