Ambus

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Health. What is the maximum number of patients that have been transported in the ambus at any one time thus far?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:57): I am happy to check. That is an operational matter and I am more than happy to get a report back, but this is something which is going to be used into the future. I know that when there were the Sampson Flat bushfires and we had large numbers of casualties with smoke inhalation, they needed to be brought into Adelaide.

We had large numbers of ambulances taken off the road because we had to transfer a large number of patients into hospitals. Ambulances can shuttle patients to the ambus and then be taken as a group into metropolitan Adelaide. I am amazed that the member for Flinders, whose life and those of his constituents may well depend on the ambus, would treat it with such disdain. It is such an important investment.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: through his debating, I have not heard the member for Flinders treat anything with disdain, only to ask questions.

The SPEAKER: First of all, I uphold the point of order, and secondly, I warn the member for Morialta for making an impromptu speech. The member for Davenport.