Flinders Medical Centre

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister explain to the house why the state government is increasing the capacity of the new multistorey car park at Flinders Medical Centre?

Members interjecting:

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

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:01): Part of our upgrade of Flinders Medical Centre includes the construction of a new multistorey car park. Yesterday, I announced that we would increase it from five levels and 1,240 spaces to seven levels and 1,780 spaces. The reason we originally planned for five levels and 1,240 spaces is that our modelling showed that it would be enough to accommodate the extra work that Flinders will be doing when services move from the Repat General Hospital, but I want to thank a couple of colleagues for persuading me to increase the size of the car park to ensure that we futureproof it.

It will mean that there is enough parking available close to hospital services for many years to come. In fact, I was told in no uncertain terms that, if we only built it to five levels when we could have built it to seven, in years to come the smaller car park might be seen as our one-way expressway—and no-one would want that. Those colleagues who helped persuade me were, of course, the member for Elder and the member for Fisher—two former nurses and two people who are both talking to their constituents and to hospital patients and staff—

Mr Duluk: I'm still waiting for your reply to my letter on the same issue. When are you going to reply to my letter?

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport was not provoked. He is warned.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Wait a moment, Blackbeard.

The SPEAKER: He is now being provoked.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I also received correspondence from many Bedford Park residents who told me that local streets were being used by Flinders Medical Centre staff and patients. Understandably, they also wanted more parking capacity at the hospital. But it would be remiss of me not to thank those residents' local MP, the member for Davenport. He has written to me twice to draw my attention to the matter, noting the fear that extra spaces will help current needs, not future demands. What a pity the member for Davenport is at odds with his opposition health spokesman, who described the bigger car park as a poor planning decision.

Ms SANDERSON: Supplementary?