Health Services

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (15:00): My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health. How can this government possibly be improving the care of one patient in this state by cutting 880 health staff, privatising SA Pathology, privatising SA imaging, privatising patient transfers and shutting down the independent voice of patients and health consumers in this state?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:00): Despite the argument and accusation, I would say, in that question let me share some more facts and figures. The reality is that funding for health is very significant, and here are some examples in our budget: $23 million over four years to support the establishment and operation of a four-bed high dependency unit at Modbury Hospital.

Ms Bedford interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Also, $14½ million—

Ms Bedford interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey, surely, is not interjecting?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —over four years to establish—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —a 12-bed acute medical unit at Noarlunga Hospital, enabling the facility to admit—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is warned.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —a wide range of patients with more complex needs.

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned for a second and final time.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —$9.9 million over four years to strengthen the cardiac centre at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital to ensure accessible quality health services for the people of western Adelaide. Also, $52 million over four years to support nursing and public hospital staff costs at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. They are just some—

Mr Picton: It’s 880 jobs going.

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is on two warnings.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —of the numbers I can share with you. Our budget not only supports country health; it supports metropolitan health. We are very focused on repairing the damage done to our health system by the previous Labor government.

Those opposite cannot even utter the words 'Transforming Health'. Which one of you has said those words for months now? Please, put a hand up.

The SPEAKER: Please do not provoke the opposition, minister.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Please, put a hand up. Please, come on, one of you must have. The former Labor government did so much damage—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —not only to the service side of things but also on the financial side of things. One of the first things that was uncovered was the $250 million per year blowout in CALHN. We value the people who work in our health system—doctors, nurses—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —professionals, allied health workers, orderlies—absolutely every single person. The volunteers who work in our system.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Mr Speaker, let me tell you a story about a volunteer in our health service who told my wife—on the bus, as it happens, so hardly science but a real story—that, as an elderly lady—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —and as a volunteer in the Royal Adelaide Hospital, she was not allowed to have free tea and coffee. It is completely unacceptable for those opposite to ask an argumentative, accusing question, as the member for Kaurna just did. We are focused on health delivery, we are focused on the people who work in the health system, we are focused on the patients, we are focused on fixing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —your mess.