MARION SWIMMING POOL

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (16:42): My question is to the Treasurer. What are the implications for the state budget as a result of the collapse of the public-private partnership for the Marion swimming pool, and is the PPP funding model for the proposed Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital similarly at risk?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (16:43): The pool project was, in fact, started under the former government, the then minister responsible being Iain Evans. This pool has been a long time coming, but let us see what Iain Evans said in a press release dated November 2001. He said:

I believe that the aquatic centre is an ideal project for a public-private partnership. Nevertheless, should our investigation show that a public-private partnership does not present a value for money solution for the South Australian taxpayer the government is committed to providing funding.

Well, I can advise the member for Davenport that he was right. Investigation showed that it was not suitable for a public-private partnership and the government is providing the money for it. And, as I said at the press conference, an allocation has been put aside for it. We are in a competitive tender, and I am not about to pre-release information until such time as the tenders are in.