HOSPITALS, FUNDING

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:56): Will the Minister for Health rule out any reductions in services or closures of regional or metropolitan hospitals in tomorrow's budget?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (14:57): I will take any questions relating to the budget, and all will be revealed tomorrow. Let us just have a look at members opposite. The day before the budget, not an insubstantial leak, and halfway through question time the Leader of the Opposition had no questions—was left flat-footed.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: Point of order: relevance.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold that point of order. Treasurer.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: What is the relevance of the Leader of the Opposition? You would have thought on any day they would have had a line of attack that could last them an hour.

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order: the point in issue. The fact of the matter was that the opposition did not get up to ask a question because the minister for Taylor was on her feet ready to ask a Dorothy Dixer.

The SPEAKER: That was not a point of order, member for Finniss, but I take the point.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I will conclude on this point, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Treasurer, I direct you back to the question.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I am enjoying question time. It gives me an opportunity to restate this government's outstanding financial record, our superior economic management, and our tough, strong budgeting. What it shows is a weak opposition that has finally realised another 3½ years in opposition. Interestingly, how many questions have they allowed the shadow treasurer to ask? The leader, the deputy leader, the shadow health minister—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order from the deputy leader.

Mr WILLIAMS: Standing orders dictate that the minister should address the subject of the question, which I believe—

The SPEAKER: Substance?

Mr WILLIAMS: —was about health.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I've done it.

Mr Williams: You have not; you have gone nowhere near it.

The SPEAKER: I uphold that point of order. Treasurer, have you finished?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes.