Question Time

MARJORIE JACKSON-NELSON HOSPITAL

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): My question is to the Premier. Did he explain to Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, before he invited her to put her name to his central hospital, that the project was likely to be controversial?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Did he forewarn her that it could be very controversial and damaging, and is today's decision a result of Labor Party polling showing that no-one wants the hospital and people would prefer that the RAH be rebuilt?

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition is out of order. The Premier.

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) (14:17): I am not going to speak until there is silence, so you can spend all afternoon, if you like.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The cabinet asked Marjorie Jackson-Nelson—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The cabinet asked Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, following a lifetime of service to her country and state and our community, whether she would honour the new hospital by allowing her name to be attached to it. She thought about it and agreed. No-one could have anticipated the vitriol and shameful abuse of members of the Liberal Party against this great Australian.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: That is absolutely untrue. Mrs Jackson-Nelson came to see me in my office on Friday to ask that her name be taken off the project because it is such a great project and it should not be surrounded by this continuing controversy. I think it is incredibly sad. Last night I went through some of the things that were said. How dare people, whose contributions are so miniscule compared to hers, try to bring her down with these awful, shameful comments. We did not hear members opposite do it when the Roma Mitchell Building was named—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —or the Roma Mitchell Performing Arts Centre. No-one from the Labor Party came out and attacked the naming of the Lyell McEwin Hospital. I cannot remember that. Can you remember that? The Lyell McEwin Hospital, named after a politician. Rather than naming it after John Hill, whose idea was the hospital, we chose a great Australian, a governor of this state appointed by the Liberal Party, and you could not abide it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The members of the Liberal Party decided—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Finniss!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —to try to shamefully attack her, rather than our decision. That is what we are objecting to today. The fact is that those people, in the most vitriolic and shameful way, decided not to attack the government, or not to attack a hospital that the people out there would much prefer to your $1.5 billion stadium, but you actually chose the low road of attacking a great Australian, whose contribution to this state and our country is massive compared to your miniscule contributions.