Royal Adelaide Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:10): My question is to the Minister for Health. Is the $1 million a day figure that the minister claims the government is saving through the delayed opening of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital the same delay costs that HYLC Joint Venture says it will be seeking to recover from the government in legal proceedings?

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Newland is warned.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:11): Well, you will need to speak to HYLC about the basis for their supposed claim, but I can make one thing very, very clear: there are critical issues with that hospital that need to be fixed before it is safe to put patients in there. I have to say that I am rather surprised that the opposition would be so quick to hop into bed with multinational corporates, with the big side of town, from the Eastern States rather than sticking up for the rights of South Australians and, in particular, caring for the safety of patients.

There are critical defects that need to be fixed before it is safe to be moving into that hospital, and the opposition are seriously trying to suggest that somehow the builder is being let off lightly and there are no penalties. Well, they are making a big fuss for someone who isn't being exposed to significant penalties because of their failure to deliver a hospital on time and a hospital that is safe and ready for patients.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. Caica: You're going to get thrown out again today, Steven. Nothing surer.

The SPEAKER: On that topic of being thrown out, which the member for Colton rightly raises, I call to order the members for Morialta, Finniss and Colton. I warn the member for Morialta; and I warn for the second and the final time the member for Mount Gambier, who had a warning from the pre-luncheon contretemps, and also the leader. Leader.