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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-22 Daily Xml
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Malinauskas Labor Government

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:11): I rise today because there are some very serious questions emerging about this Malinauskas Labor government and where their priorities lie. It does not seem that fixing ramping even gets a mention from the Premier anymore, and the cost-of-living crisis engulfing South Australia seems to have taken a back seat to rubbing shoulders with sports stars, influencers and celebrities. Let's lay some facts on the table about what the Premier and the Treasurer have presided over to date.

Unemployment: currently 4 per cent, equal second worst in the nation. Even more troubling, South Australia has held the unenviable title of having the worst or second worst unemployment rate in the nation for every month but one since this Labor government was elected.

The cash rate: in March 2022 the cash rate sat at 0.1 per cent. Now, after multiple rounds of cash rate increases, the official rate sits at 3.35 per cent. What does that mean for the average South Australian mortgage? Families need to find nearly $1,000 extra a month just to service their existing loan and keep a roof over their head.

Inflation: well, we are leading the nation in something. Unfortunately, this is not something that makes the average South Australian smile, though. December 2021 to December 2022, 8.6 per cent, the highest annual rate of inflation in the nation. I do not need to tell any South Australian that we are paying more for nearly everything.

But let's look more closely at some of the ABS data, again December to December numbers. You wake up in the morning, you turn the lights on, electricity up 14½ per cent. You go and put some petrol in the car, fuel up 15.6 per cent. You grab a loaf of bread for toast in the morning, up 12.8 per cent; and milk for your coffee, up 18 per cent. You send the kids to school with a couple of pieces of fruit, fruit and veg up 9.3 per cent. You need to replace your microwave, household appliances up 11.4 per cent.

All of this is happening in concert with a housing affordability crisis. The HomeBuilder scheme, implemented during the peak of the COVID pandemic to stimulate the housing industry, was a successful scheme that attracted over 14,000 applicants in South Australia.

The opposition learned recently that a potentially large number of applicants in the order of 1,200 are likely to miss out on the grant, making their home ownership opportunities precarious because their homes are not going to be finished in time through no fault of their own due to supply and labour shortages. Does this Treasurer pick up the phone? 'Hello Jim—member for Lee, Mr Mullighan.' 'Who's that?' No. All the opposition are saying is that the guidelines for this scheme have been changed before. We are asking the Treasurer to pick up the phone, talk to Jim Chalmers and make a request on behalf of these 1,200 people in South Australia that the deadline for completion be extended. This is a simple thing.

National partnership arrangements get changed very frequently. It is within the Treasurer's power to pick up the phone, talk to the federal Treasurer and do something about this. No. Instead of that, we get a treasurer who refuses to even make a call or to stand up for South Australians. We get a treasurer who calls into radio to defend his extravagant trip to New York, most likely costing in excess of $78,000. As his CE said, 'The bills are still coming in.' His accommodation was The Marmara Park Avenue hotel in New York, with its wellness centre, curated art collection and Turkish bath, while South Australians are worried about turning on the tap because of the potential increases in water costs under this Treasurer.

We on this side of the house can see why South Australians are becoming increasingly frustrated with this Malinauskas government because they are out of touch, they are arrogant and, quite frankly, after not even 12 months it is clear that they have the wrong priorities.

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