Emergency Departments

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine has written this media release today. After all of these measures have been put in place, are you telling the parliament now that the only relief in sight for the crisis enveloping our emergency departments is two years down the track when the new Royal Adelaide Hospital opens?

Mr Pisoni: If it's on time.

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:18): I don't think there can be any doubt that, as the flu season de-escalates, the pressure will come off our emergency departments, and I expect that to happen over the coming weeks. In fact, we have already seen a decrease in the presentations to our EDs.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am confident that the worst is behind us, but an emergency department has a certain space, a certain physical size. To change that physical size, you do have to rebuild the emergency department, and that is what we are doing.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The members for Hartley and Morphett are called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Waldorf and Statler over there! But an emergency department has a certain physical size. Yes, at the end of the day, the only solution is to rebuild the emergency department. The only solution is a new Royal Adelaide Hospital. The opposition have been in denial about this for the last eight years.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Here they go! A chorus of gibbons opposite.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: I think I can anticipate the point of order. Could the leader be seated? The Minister for Health will withdraw and apologise for his reference to the opposition as—a what of gibbons?

Mr GARDNER: A chorus.

The SPEAKER: A chorus of gibbons.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Sir, I apologise and withdraw for referring to the opposition as—

The SPEAKER: No, you do not need to repeat it, thank you.