Question Time

HEALTH SYSTEM

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): My question is to the Premier. What action will he take as Leader of the Government to contain the disproportionate and uncontrolled cost increases in the health system during the time that the present minister has had responsibility for the portfolio? On page 7 of the general summary of the Paxton report into the state's health system, it says:

The last three financial years have shown financial trends that are disproportionate to service outputs and uncontrolled cost increases that are not relative to service outputs.

In other words, mismanagement.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:25): Here is the man who is constantly calling for more money to be spent. Let me just tell him where money in the health budget goes. What is the difference between Labor and Liberal on health care? The difference is, I am advised, that there are now 699 more doctors in the system than there were when you were in cabinet. I am advised that there are about 2,400 more nurses than there were.

Mr Pengilly: They are all doing clerical work.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Now they are insulting our nurses—they are all doing clerical work. There are nearly 700 more doctors and 2,400 more nurses in the system compared to when the Liberals were in power, because the only policy they had was to privatise our hospital system. We saw what they did to Modbury, and we have taken it back into the public fold; and we know what they had planned for the QEH. The difference is that we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars rebuilding our hospitals.

Go up to the Lyell McEwen and see what is happening there—there is almost a doubling of the number of beds. Go out to the QEH and see what is happening there—it is like a building site, with brand new wards and theatres and emergency departments. And then go down to Flinders Medical Centre and look there. And have a look also, while you are there, at the new mental health facilities. And, of course, you also have a commitment for a $1.7 billion new hospital rather than rebuilding one that would disrupt patients and cause a total mess on North Terrace. Because that is the difference. We are committed to health: you are committed to privatisation.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!