Elective Surgery

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:25): My question is again to the Premier. Why has the government announced today that it is likely to cancel elective surgery operations this week rather than reopening the 61 hospital beds it has closed at Hampstead, Flinders and the Women's and Children's?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:25): Well, I don't have any specific information that would suggest that there has been a cancellation of elective surgery, but I am happy to ask the health minister detailed questions on that and come back. I would point out, though, that we do have information that gives us a very clear picture of what we inherited from those opposite with regard to elective surgery. I know that those opposite are not interested—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, please be seated for one moment. Is there a point of order?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir; it was debate. The Premier gets up and immediately says he can't answer the question and wants a debate.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, I have the question. I am assiduously listening to the Premier. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. I do know that those opposite hate hearing about the failures of the system that they had created. It must be difficult for them to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —cope with, because in their Pollyanna delusional world, they believe that somehow they handed over this perfect system that was all operating. This suits their narrative because, of course, the minister who handed it over is now the Leader of the Opposition—very awkward.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, be seated. Debate? I have the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Personal reflections, sir—

The SPEAKER: Yes, I have the point of order. I do not need a speech. I do ask the Premier to respectfully come back to the substance of the question concerning elective surgery and related matters.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: One of the things that you have to do when you are the leader of a political party is take responsibility. All we hear from the Leader of the Opposition is, 'I was only the health minister for three or four months.'

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: He was in the cabinet for a lot longer. Leaders take responsibility.

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What he wants to do is punt responsibility to one of his other mates. The reality is that we inherited a mess. You need to take responsibility—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —for that mess.

The SPEAKER: Premier, be seated. Has the Premier finished? I do have the point of order and I understand it is for debate. In fairness to the Premier, I have given him some scope. He is facing a cacophony of noise from members on my left. I have the question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He didn't even attempt to answer the question. He is just engaging in debate.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens can leave for half an hour under 137A. It is not an opportunity to make an impromptu speech when a point of order is made. Thank you, we will see you in half an hour. The Premier has the call.

The honourable member for West Torrens having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare compiles statistics for all hospitals in Australia. I note, with regard to elective surgery, which is ranked by hospital, that South Australia last financial year—nine months of which the Labor Party were in office—actually had five of the 10 worst hospitals in the country for elective surgery. But for some reason they want to continually say, 'Why is the Liberal Party doing this?' I guarantee you, sir, that every day—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —we are in power we are working to fix the mess that we inherited, whether it be maintenance of our country hospitals, whether it be the massive backlog in upgrades that are required, whether it be dealing with the emergency department waiting times or clearance rates, whether it be in regard to elective surgery, or whether it be in regard to the performance of the South Australian Ambulance Service. Every day that we are in power, we are working to make sure that we return our health system to the very best system it can possibly be.

I just refer you, sir, and this parliament to an understanding of the reality—which is independently assessed; it's there for everybody to look at—that the health system under the previous government was not functioning. It had the worst emergency department clearance rates in the country—worst, second worst, third worst, fourth worst. It doesn't get much worse than that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And it had five of the worst 10—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —hospitals in terms of elective surgery waiting times. That is what they delivered. We are fixing it up.