Page 2198 - Week 08 - Thursday, 10 September 1992
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Whilst the national average is $34,309, the average cost of employing one ACT public servant - ABS statistics once again - is $40,040. Queensland recorded the lowest cost per employee, at $31,653. Employers in the private sector reported their average costs per employee as $27,788 - an increase of 6.5 per cent over the 1989-90 figure of $26,086.
The Chief Minister talked about the tourism industry. Let us see what the ABS statistics show about the tourism industry that was not mentioned by the Chief Minister. The recreation, personal and other service industry recorded the greatest increase in labour costs - up 14.2 per cent to $17,520. The construction industry saw a decrease of 9.7 per cent. The Chief Minister said how important the tourism industry is to the ACT economy - and it is, and we all acknowledge that. She also mentioned how important it is to employ young people - and it is, and we all acknowledge that. What the Chief Minister did not say, though, was that the increase in people staying in Canberra over the past 12 months had something to do with the Rubens exhibition. We are not getting exhibitions such as that every year or every month.
The Chief Minister also said how important the private sector is and how closely the Government liaises with the private sector - with the tourism industry in particular. Perhaps she should tell Mr Berry that, because Mr Berry certainly does not liaise closely with the tourism industry. Although Mr Berry brought up some legislation in this place on occupational health and safety, he did not talk to anybody at all in the tourism industry about it. When we are debating that in the future, Mr Berry, I will show you that that statement is not as outlandish as you might now think. In writing, we had people saying, "Hey, listen; as he has targeted us in particular for this legislation, why doesn't he come anywhere near us and talk to us?".
Whilst we are talking about tourism, Madam Speaker, perhaps the full story should be put on record. Let me also talk about superannuation costs. As I said before, they have increased by 18.1 per cent. In the private sector, for the first time ever superannuation costs have passed payroll tax as the major component of labour costs other than earnings. They are up 29.5 per cent to $1,140, in comparison to $992 per employee for payroll tax.
The Government stands up in this place and says that it has done all these wonderful things about employment. The Opposition says that any improvement in the unemployment situation is more than welcome, but that there is more that could be done; that the full story must be realised. Let us not hide from the fact that youth unemployment in the ACT is continuing to rise. From time to time this Government boasts about its consultative mechanisms; yet industry is saying to us, in writing, "Hey, listen; before you come into this place and legislate against us, at least give us the opportunity of making an input".
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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