Grievance Debate

HEALTH AND HOSPITAL CARE

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:08): There must be an election in the air, because the Labor Party, particularly the health minister, is starting to run the line that the Liberal Party hates hospitals. He said it today in his grieve. Let me make it crystal clear to the Minister for Health that he has no right to come in here and say that this side of the house hates hospitals, particularly the Women's and Children's Hospital.

I will put it on the record that my eldest son was saved by the Women's and Children's Hospital. At two weeks old, he got bacterial meningitis and for four weeks he sat in that hospital as a two week old, and ultimately a six week old, being saved by the staff of the Women's and Children's Hospital. For the Minister for Health to come in here with his sanctimonious claim that the Liberal Party somehow hates hospitals is rubbish. I thank the Women's and Children's Hospital that I happen to have a 27-year-old son today. I thank the Women's and Children's Hospital.

What the public does want is a health system that is run properly, a health system that can stick to its budget and a promise that you can believe. Now, there is no-one in South Australia who is going believe this government when they say they are going to build a Women's and Children's Hospital in 2023, 10 years away.

I say to the Minister for Health that he needs to explain a few things. Why should the public believe they will build a new hospital in 10 years when they cannot even deliver on the $60 million O-Bahn project they promised during this term or indeed the $520 million trams to the western suburbs that the Minister for Infrastructure prattled on about for years on end? What about the Mount Bold expansion that was promised; that was front page of the budget, front page of The Advertiser? I know, what about the prison PPP?

These are promises that this government make and they simply have not delivered. They promised a train to Gawler a number of times; that is not being delivered. They promised a Sturt Road-South Road intersection upgrade not once but twice; they promised it in 2006 and 2010. This government think the public should believe them that in 2023 in 10 years' time, three elections' time—and who knows who will be in government then—that somehow this government is going to deliver a new Women's and Children's Hospital.

Who is going to believe that? This is a government that in its own forward estimates is cutting $949 million out of health. They are cutting $949 million out of health. They are going to build a new hospital in 10 years' time if you believe them, but what are they doing right now? They are cutting $949 million out of health—your government, minister. You are doing that, member for Wright. Go and tell your electorate that. They are sacking over 200 nurses. They are reducing the nurse numbers now.

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Davenport will be seated. I call the Minister for Education to order and I warn her for the first time for repeated interjections. I can hardly hear the member for Davenport over her. Member for Davenport, who has time on.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. So, the reality is that the public should look at what this government is doing to health right now. They are cutting $949 million out of health over the forward estimates, they are getting rid of nearly 5,000 public servants in their forward estimates, they are getting rid of about 200 nurses in their forward estimates and they want the public to believe that; don't worry about it.

In 2023 they are going to build a new Women's and Children's Hospital on top of $36 billion worth of infrastructure, transport infrastructure, and at the same time they are going to pay down debt ($14 billion) and establish a future fund. Now, I suggest the public think about this because what the government is promising I do not think the public are going to believe. This government has made so many promises that they have broken and all the heads are bowed because they know in their heart of hearts we are right, that they have made so many promises they have broken that the public simply do not believe them.

The SPEAKER: I haven't broken any promises lately.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Then why did you interrupt me, sir, if you haven't done it lately?

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport will address his remarks through the Chair.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: My time has expired, sir. You interrupted me, unfortunately.

The SPEAKER: Thank you for confessing that, but we did give you time on.