House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-06 Daily Xml

Contents

EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): My question is to the Premier. What assumptions did Treasury make to arrive at their zero jobs growth forecast this year, given that Deloitte Access Economics modelling forecasts a 0.7 per cent jobs decline this year?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:37): The Treasury takes into account a range of different expressions of opinion from a range of agencies, and they make conservative estimates of future employment growth.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, there are other agencies that express different opinions about South Australia's great prospects. They make their own assessment conscientiously after taking into account all of the best available data that is published and making their own analysis.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I warn the deputy leader for the second time. There will be no further warnings.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: As I have said before, it is a particularly conservative estimate, but that's what you would expect from a treasurer.

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order, Mr Speaker. My question asked what are the assumptions, not that there is a range of them and they are conservative. What are the specific assumptions that were made by Treasury?

The SPEAKER: Yes, I know very well what your question asked, and it is up to the Premier how he answers. It is simply not a point of order to stand up and say that you are dissatisfied with the answer. Member for Florey.