Question Time

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (16:16): My question is to the Premier. Given that 51.6 per cent of the state's population voted for a Liberal government at the March election, including a 15 per cent swing in the seat of Adelaide, does he concede that he does not have a mandate to transfer the Royal Adelaide Hospital to the contaminated railyard site, and will he cancel this project?

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) (16:16): The Governor in his speech today was, I believe, emphatic in outlining the government's program for the signing of the contract for the Royal Adelaide Hospital at the end of this year and the start of construction next year. However, if the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about election outcomes, I think she will find that the member for Waite received well over 52 per cent of the vote for deputy leader as opposed to—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: 54 per cent.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —54 per cent, apparently, not the three votes that account for 11 per cent; but, apparently, that is—

Mr WILLIAMS: I have a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Premier is clearly debating the answer.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The member for Light.