ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): My question is again to Treasurer. When did the Treasurer first become aware that the cost of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital was going to exceed the $1.7 billion being promised by the government, and why didn't he immediately inform the public? We know since the election that the government had approved in cabinet in November 2009 an increase to at least $1.8 billion.

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Get over it, Isobel.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:29): The final costings of the hospital were not made known to me before the final budget submission was prepared and it was taken to cabinet and, so, before the government made the decision, before cabinet made the decision that we would go ahead with the signing of the contract and the financial closure—it was not until that stage that all the costings were known. They couldn't be calculated until we were at that late stage in the preparation of the contract.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: This is all very interesting but the question was: when did he know that the cost was exceeding $1.7 billion?

An honourable member: What standing order?

Mr WILLIAMS: When did he first know?

The SPEAKER: Order! Sit down, member for MacKillop.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister is answering the question as he chooses but I am listening very carefully to his answer and I think it is very relevant. Treasurer.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am more than happy to talk about being honest with the South Australian people, because what the opposition took to the last electorate was absolute nonsense. It claimed that it could rebuild on the existing site—on a car park, apparently, without any provision for what you might do with the cars that actually park there—for, from memory, about $700 million. If you want to talk about being honest and frank with the South Australian people—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order: standing order 98. The minister is not only not answering the question, he is now debating.

The SPEAKER: I think we need to define what we mean by 'debating'. I am comfortable with what the Treasurer is saying. Treasurer, can you get back to the substance of the question?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Madam Speaker, I am more than happy to have the integrity and the honesty of this government held up on this project.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order. The bellowing man who insists upon the standing orders should know it is out of order to interject. I cannot hear the Treasurer.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I am having similar problems hearing also. I remind members on my left of the standing orders where you are not to interrupt people on their feet. If you continue to do so, under standing order 137 you will be named and you will leave the chamber. You have asked the Treasurer three questions now relating to the hospital. I ask that you let him answer them in silence and treat him with the respect he deserves.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am more than happy to have a contrast drawn between the honesty and integrity of this government on this project and the dodgy proposal which the opposition took to the last election where it pretended—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I'm sure you don't need to have an understanding of what debate is after hearing what the minister just said.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Yes, sit down. The minister will now get back to the question and be careful about his wording.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The simple fact is that, on the question of costings, I was made aware of the full costings—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, Member for Norwood!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —of this project. Treasury gave me a briefing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Treasury gave me a briefing on the full costings of this project when the submission was being taken to cabinet. It was not until that fairly late stage in the negotiations between the government and the consortium that we could know exactly what the costings were going to be.