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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-12-01 Daily Xml
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State Economy

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:32): I rise today to speak about the Marshall Liberal government's economic performance and job creation over our term in government. South Australia has recorded the highest rise in gross state product, as the Treasurer outlined during question time today, and per capita growth in the nation over 2020-21, rising by 3.9 per cent, an impressive performance I think on any measure. South Australia's unemployment rate remains at a relatively low level at 5.1 per cent, much better than under the previous government when the average rate was 6.8 per cent over their last term, 2014 to 2018. So the data is mounting about the economic performance of this government.

Indeed, South Australia has recorded the highest number of people in full-time work on record over the last two months—on record, that is, ever. Job vacancies are at record highs and we have stopped the brain drain in its tracks with the highest number of people moving to our state in about four decades. We know there is much more work to do, but by keeping South Australia safe and strong we can continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, support businesses and create more jobs, and of course that is our goal.

Latest ABS data shows that South Australia has 18,000 job vacancies at the moment, which is extraordinarily high and provides optimism I think for those who are seeking work. South Australians are feeling increasingly confident in the state's economic recovery with the BankSA State Monitor survey in October showing business confidence is at its third highest level since May 2011, over a decade.

Business confidence also remains at one of the highest levels of confidence in more than a decade. When you combine both of those figures, it is fair to say that there is a sense of optimism within the state, and confidence. The latest business report from Deloitte Access showed that South Australia has enjoyed the second largest relative growth in employment, behind only Western Australia.

The Marshall Liberal government is attracting more people to move to our state. We have stopped the brain drain, as I said, and in fact in the 2021 March quarter South Australia recorded a fourth consecutive quarter of positive net interstate migration, that is some 650 people moving to South Australia not out of South Australia. This is the highest level since 1981, four decades ago.

The government has now paid out over $287 million in grants to nearly 22,000 businesses, which is helping businesses in need cover ongoing operating costs, such as their rent, their power bills, and supplier and raw material costs, of course. The Marshall Liberal government is creating more jobs and supporting businesses through our $4 billion stimulus and our record $17.9 billion investment in infrastructure, specifically roads, education, sporting and health infrastructure, but of course others as well.

Importantly, the government is also lowering the cost of doing business to help South Australian businesses grow and create more jobs, just as we promised we would prior to the last election. We are also continuing to expand our defence industry capabilities, with the release of our defence sector plan, which will deliver more than 4,000 direct shipbuilding jobs and thousands of additional support jobs at places like Osborne and Edinburgh.

The Liberals have secured defence jobs for our state. South Australia will build the new nuclear powered submarines and has secured all ongoing maintenance for the Collins class submarines and the air warfare destroyer upgrade work. Not only that, but South Australia has been cemented as the defence jobs capital of the country, with thousands of jobs secured for our state for decades to come. The future is indeed bright.

The Marshall Liberal government worked hand in glove with the federal Liberal government and our defence industry to take full advantage of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that have created employment opportunities and increased optimism in our state. Recent positive announcements include, and there is quite a long list:

the global tech and services company Accenture to set up an Adelaide hub, with a plan to create some 2,000 jobs;

BAE to hire 1,000 staff to work on the $45 billion future frigates;

renewables developer Green Gold Energy creating 600 jobs through two new solar farms in South Australia;

Australia Post running its biggest recruitment drive in its 210-year history, with another 221 jobs on offer;

the National Australia Bank has launched a statewide recruitment drive to find 150 new employees;

more than 150 jobs will be created at a new $45 million hotel in the Murraylands;

80 permanent workers will be created in Port Augusta, with our government giving planning approval for the development of a port in the Upper Spencer Gulf city.

Unfortunately, I am running out of time. There is so much more I could say about the great work the government has done in building confidence and employment in our state. I will continue that when I next have the opportunity.

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