Question Time

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): My question is to the Premier. Given that the Minister for Health has consistently failed to provide a date for the technical completion of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, can the Premier confirm whether he has been told when technical completion will occur and whether he is satisfied with the minister's answer that, and I quote, 'The hospital will be finished when it's finished'?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:05): Yes, I am satisfied with the minister's answer to the question, and I think everyone in this house—everybody, indeed, in this state—will be celebrating what will be an extraordinary piece of infrastructure when it is open. I am more than happy for the opposition to have on the record their opposition to this fantastic piece of infrastructure because when ultimately—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I can hear that now: 'The Liberals just said no. The Liberals just said no.' And this has been much—

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order and so is the member for Newland.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Much of what we are seeking to achieve in this state has been done over the opposition of the Liberal Party, and it's sad. I don't know why they want to have themselves on the record as being opposed to this fantastic piece of infrastructure, and indeed every piece of infrastructure that we build. We will make sure that this first-class piece of infrastructure is ready to go when it is safe to do so. When it is—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I can't believe that they are so desperate to have a hospital open that they never wanted built: 'It is something that's completely unnecessary, but give it to us right now.' This will be attended to appropriately in the appropriate time, and we are not going to hurry the builders. We don't want to hurry the builders; it's certainly not doing our budget any damage, but we would like to know the time so that we can plan.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We would like to know so that we can plan and we would like a date so that we can carry out that important piece of work with the nurses and the doctors and, of course, the patients and the families so that they know when they are moving there. I presume all these complaints can be taken as a rejection of their invitation to the opening. I'll note that.

The Hon. J.R. Rau: A few extra will come.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right. They will be there. They will be there wanting to sit right up the front.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: I wouldn't personalise it to Steven; he might not be the Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right—the Leader of the Opposition pro tem. We will send an invitation and whoever is in that role can actually take it up.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Morialta, Hartley, Little Para, Kaurna, Reynell, the Treasurer, and the deputy leader. I warn the leader, the deputy leader, the member for Newland—

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: Thank you, sir.

The SPEAKER: I just paused for that expression of gratitude—and I warn for the second and final time the members for Hartley and the deputy leader. Member for Giles.