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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-31 Daily Xml
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Question Time

PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier guarantee that no South Australians were available to fill jobs in the public sector that were ultimately filled by 457 visa holders? On Tuesday, the Premier said that he would only allow imported labour as a last resort in South Australia and 'only where there are no local workers with the skills needed'.

However, 20.7 per cent of temporary 457 visa holders employed in South Australia are employed by the government—the highest of all mainland states—compared to 6.8 per cent in New South Wales, 8.1 per cent in Queensland and 5.9 per cent in Victoria.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:03): Of course, my remarks were in the context of the EMA agreements that—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, that was the context in which my remarks were made. The honourable member has then matched them up with another issue and sought to make a political point. I suppose it goes without saying but I will say it for the benefit for those opposite who may not appreciate this, that is, that those visas in fact were granted by the commonwealth government, not granted by—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —the state government. I stand by what I said. We should in all respects ensure that South Australians are found those jobs before bringing people from interstate or overseas. Having said that, we have taken those things about which we have control, that is, the capacity to influence the training systems to make sure that people have the skills to get those jobs, seriously. Indeed, members already would have heard earlier this week of the substantial investment this government is proposing to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —the question of engineering and mining skills to ensure that the people are ready to take the jobs that will no doubt flow from the mining boom. So I stand by my remarks.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You have asked a question, order! Member for Torrens.

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