KordaMentha

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier cite any examples of KordaMentha having done any work in any other public hospital system throughout the nation?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:07): Well, I'm satisfied that KordaMentha have the requisite skills to do the work that they've done. They have already presented us with a report that looks at the problems that we inherited from the previous government. I know that it is extraordinarily inconvenient for those opposite to have anybody shine a light on the mess they left us with, but the reality is we've got to fix it up—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and the good news is we're up to the task.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: But KordaMentha have already written a report—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will be heard in silence.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and we are now out to the market to have the implementation plan put in place, and we will wait to see what the final response for that is. But the reality is that we were left a huge mess, and that's why in our very first budget we put $800 million back into the budget.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Those opposite were planning on massive, savage cuts to the health budget in South Australia. They've got nothing to say about this because it's a fact: the new government put $800 million back into your budget.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What did they do? They cut beds. What did they do? They closed hospitals—closed hospitals. In fact, there is one hospital in particular they closed, which they said they would never ever close—the Repatriation General Hospital.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: I believe the Premier has finished.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Police is called to order. The Premier has finished his answer? I believe he has finished his answer. The member for Newland, and then I will come back to the opposition.