Modbury Hospital

Mr GOLDSWORTHY (Kavel) (15:03): My question again is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister guarantee that all the current surgical services other than ophthalmology will be delivered at the Modbury Hospital as inpatient services after Transforming Health is 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) (15:04): We are looking at all of our—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The simple fact is I know that the Liberal Party in this state has a vision for a health system in South Australia which is the same as that from the 1950s. I know that they would rather that nothing change. They don't support investing in our hospitals. They don't support any changes to the way we deliver health services. Their vision is a health system from the 1950s.

The SPEAKER: This is so therapeutic.

Mr Gardner: Standing order 98, debate.

The SPEAKER: Don't be a wet blanket.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Mr Speaker, thank you for your protection. And that is the vision of the Liberal Party for the health system in this state. The simple fact is that we do move services around and we will continue to move services around. And there is one thing—

Ms Chapman: Out the door!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Because—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Yes, indeed, and a good example for that is making sure that people who live in the northern suburbs of Adelaide have access to good health services, something those opposite have consistently opposed at every step. The fact is that they do not want us investing in our hospitals. Every time we invest in upgrading our health infrastructure they get up—

The SPEAKER: A point of order. The minister has not used the term 'hospital haters' yet.

Mr GOLDSWORTHY: Mr Speaker, the point of order is relevance. The question was specific about the minister guaranteeing surgical services.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to the minister's diatribe.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The simple fact is that, of course, we will move services around to make sure that people across South Australia get the health services that they need, and we need to also make sure that we provide for the best clinical outcomes because, at the end of the day, our health system has to be configured to make sure we get the best possible services and the best possible patient outcomes.

Now I know that patient outcomes is a dirty word to those opposite. I know that they are more interested in being petty ambulance chasers, looking to jump all over and try to make any political capital—

Mr GARDNER: This is both offensive and debate.

The SPEAKER: Why is it offensive?

Mr GARDNER: That was my own comment. Debate is the point of order.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Health must not debate the answer.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I will not be lectured to by those who privatised the Modbury Hospital, whose only vision for health care in the north-eastern suburbs is to flog it off to the highest bidder.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order. The minister is clearly defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER: Well, it is rhetoric, and I think we will move on to the member for Reynell.