Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (15:10): Supplementary: where there is disagreement between your political decision and the clinical advice that you receive, which one of those arguments is going to win out?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:11): Well, that's just a silly question. The member for Schubert should be a lot better than that because, without doubt, he is one of the brighter members on the opposition's side. He is certainly a lot brighter than the poor old Leader of the Opposition here, a lot more politically astute—not that that's saying much. However, there is no doubt that the member for Schubert has a lot more going for him and will achieve a lot more in his political career than the poor old member for Dunstan. That's a silly question.

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order: would you ask the minister to come back to the substance of the question?

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: We obviously listen and take into very careful account the advice of clinicians. However, there come times when there are differing views among clinicians, particularly on the broader question of where services should be located. On this view, the government made a call that we would keep those services at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I am more than happy for the opposition to continue to litigate this issue because we are happy for the people in the western suburbs to know that on this particular issue the government did have a change of heart.