Elective Surgery

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:35): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier think it would be acceptable if patients had their elective surgery cancelled this week, as was announced today?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:35): Sorry, I didn't hear the question.

The SPEAKER: Can we have the question repeated, please.

Mr PICTON: My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier think it would be acceptable if patients had their elective surgery cancelled this week, as was announced today?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Well, I have already said in my previous answer that I am more than happy to come back to the house with an answer regarding elective surgery. The reality is that I am not the Minister for Health and I don't have a detailed understanding of every announcement that is made by the health minister. There are two chambers in this parliament: there's one that's green and there's another one that's red. In the red one, there's the Minister for Health. He could answer this question.

There's this other new invention called the telephone. You can text people, you can ask your members in another chamber, if you wish, or you can send a messenger down there, or you can make out you're going to the toilet and you could whiz down there, so to speak, and you could ask your mates to ask that detailed question, if you need it urgently. I am happy to ask that question. In fact, I might even be able to get on the blower and text the minister myself and come back if you want to ask that question again in a couple of minutes' time.