Cardiology Services

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:32): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier stand by the comments of his health minister when he said in July, 'The QEH has the capacity to deal with cardiac emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week'?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:32): As the members opposite will know, we're taking health very seriously. The Central Adelaide—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The Central Adelaide Local Health Network incorporates both The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Royal Adelaide Hospital. As everybody in this place would know, the CALHN was a complete and utter shambles when we took that over from the previous government. The Leader of the Opposition knows how much of a mess CALHN was in because he was the minister for health at the time. Of course, none of the problems that existed—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: Take some responsibility.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in CALHN relate here to the people of South Australia.

Mr Malinauskas: You've been in charge for 18 months now—18 months!

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As the Leader of the Opposition points out, we have been in government for 18 months—19, actually.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Since then, we have put more than a billion dollars back into the health budget in South Australia, back into improving health outcomes in South Australia. We are very proud of those outcomes—

Mr Picton: Why don't you answer my question?

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Kaurna is warned. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We're very proud of the increased money that we have put into the health budget of South Australia, and we will continue to do that because we think the people of South Australia deserve much better outcomes. With regard to the specific question regarding cardiology services, can I say that is an operational issue, and CALHN, as per the arrangement, determine what cardiology services are required across their local health network.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee, I remind you that you are on two warnings. If you would like to leave today, you are going about it the right way. Member for Kaurna.