Royal Adelaide Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): A supplementary: are there any provisions included in the contract for the government to seek liquidated damages?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:07): I will get advice about exactly what I can say, but I will reiterate what I said in my previous answer.

Mr Marshall: It's either in the contract, or it's not.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: This contract protects the interests of taxpayers.

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: This contract does provide for penalties. It does mean that every single day that this hospital is not delivered SAHP are forgoing approximately $1 million a day. That is $1 million a day—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —coming off the total cost of the contract; $1 million a day that South Australian taxpayers are better off when this hospital is not being delivered along the time lines provided for in the contract. As I said, we will be seeking compensation for other issues as well. These issues are playing out in the courts, and I am very confident of a satisfactory resolution of these issues, but my first priority will always be the safety of patients. Unlike the opposition, I will not go weak at the knees and I will not be compromising on patient safety because I get intimidated, unlike the opposition who are so easily intimidated by the big boys from New South Wales who come over. They are quite happy to do their bidding—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —ignore doctors, ignore patients and ignore the safety issues with these hospitals.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: No. 98.

The SPEAKER: Are you claiming it was debate?

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order, and in that pause I call to order the members for Mitchell, Hartley, Hammond, Adelaide and Chaffey. Leader.