Hospital Beds

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. Given the warnings to the government about patient risk in November last year, why did the government respond by closing 61 beds?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:13): Well, I've got no—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I've got no idea what the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. I am very well acquainted with the number of beds that those opposite talked about closing. We know that they said that, to improve the health system in South Australia, they were going to close three hospitals.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Premier begins his answer by immediately talking about the last four years.

The SPEAKER: What is the point of order?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Relevance, sir. It's clear.

The SPEAKER: Debate. I have the point of order. As I said, I will allow the Premier some preamble, then I expect him to come to the substance of the question. Then the member for Florey.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It has been suggested by the Leader of the Opposition that there has been a massive cut. I think he is talking about 61 beds cut since we came to government. When I hear about cuts to beds in South Australia I've just got this big flashing, strobing red light flashing at me saying, 'Labor, Labor, danger, danger.' The reality is that over a long period of time they announced that they were closing hospitals—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —St Margaret's Hospital, Hampstead and Repat. They closed Repat; they sold Repat. The people of South Australia said, 'We're voting Liberal if you tear up the contract to sell the Repat.' That's precisely what we did.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: I think the Premier is finished.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He certainly is.

The SPEAKER: He is finished.

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Kaurna. We will switch to the member for Florey. I will come back to those on my right.