Health Review

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): Is the minister suggesting to the house that, in fact, there could be an increase in the number of employees in the health system after the reforms are implemented?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:13): Given that our health workforce has been growing significantly over the last 10 or 15 years, I have no doubt that our health workforce overall is probably going to be larger in four years' time than it is today because that's what happens—your health workforce grows as your demand for health care grows.

I certainly have no doubt that we will be spending more in four years' time than we are now. The issue is the sustainability of that growth. At the moment, our health expenditure is growing faster than revenues to the state government. Our health budget has grown, compounding over the last 10 years at about 8 or 9 per cent: state revenues have grown at around 2 per cent. That is unsustainable, and we will reach a position where health consumes the entire state budget. We can either do what the Liberal Party would have us do and stick our heads in the sand and pretend that that is not a problem—

The SPEAKER: Minister.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —or we can actually start reform now and make sure that we build a sustainable health system.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Has the minister finished?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: That will obviate the point of order. I call the member for Schubert to order and the member for Hammond. I would have called the member for Kavel to order, but his interjection was funny.