ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:35): Will the Treasurer guarantee that the total cost of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital PPP, including capital, operational and risk, will be less than if the project was to be delivered by the public sector? It was revealed that the $323 million super schools PPP project was $9 million more expensive than if the project was to be delivered by the public sector.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:35): An assessment was done by Treasury about what is the best way to deliver this project—whether it be done by self-funded, or whether it be done by PPP. There is a range of criteria that they look at in determining which way the project would be financed, one of which obviously is cost, but cost is not the only consideration that they take into account. What I can guarantee is that what has been examined and looked at is delivering the project via PPP or delivering it through a self-funded mechanism, and the PPP came out ahead as the best way to get value for money for South Australians in delivering this project.