Royal Adelaide Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): Why is it that the health minister insists that we will take occupancy in April next year when your own budget papers provide for the second half of next year?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:23): That is the advice I have received from Treasury about when they think the project will be complete. They do not think—

Mr Marshall: Are you talking to the health minister?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The health minister and the government and the cabinet all signed off on the budget. We believe that the contractors will not be ready in that financial year, hence the moving forward. We did this in the Mid-Year Budget Review. We have had subsequent question times between the Mid-Year Budget Review and now.

Mr Marshall: And the health minister keeps saying they will be moving in April.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Calm down, comrade. What is happening is that we do not believe that the developers will be ready in April of that year and that there will be some slippage. We hope that they catch up some time and we hope that they make it on time; and, if they do, we will adjust the budget accordingly.