HOSPITALS, FUNDING

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:46): My question is to the Premier. Given that this government for 8½ years has spruiked itself as a government focused on health, education and law and order, how can we possibly be in a situation now where we have to consider closing hospitals, schools and police stations?

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) (14:47): I know that was your plan, and you just said that you would have to consider closing hospitals. Here I have an announcement to make.

The budget tomorrow will provide a major boost to the health service, with more than $100 million dedicated to ensuring that 95 per cent of all patients who present to emergency departments are seen, treated and discharged or admitted to a ward within four hours by June 2013. I thank the Minister for Health and the Treasurer for their great help in terms of giving me the arms I needed to go and negotiate this deal with the commonwealth. That is our commitment.

In addition, more than $100 million of capital investment will be made in redeveloping the Women's and Children's and Modbury hospitals, and we are committed to the $125 million next stage of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital redevelopment, as well as more than $20 million to upgrade country hospitals.