Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): My question is to the Premier. Why hasn't major construction started on The QEH development?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:18): I don't have detailed information on that project. What I do know is that we are massively, massively increasing expenditure to upgrade our hospitals. What we know is that under the previous government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Now what are we getting from the opposition? I am not responding, sir, but I am just making an observation that—

The SPEAKER: Don't respond.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —what we are getting, in a general term, from the opposition is that when they were running Health it was all going tickety-boo. As it turns out—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —it wasn't. It was an absolute debacle. Since we have come to office, sir, as you would be more than aware, we have had to put in excess of $1.8 billion back into the operating budget of the health system in South Australia to fix up the mess that we inherited. In addition to that, of course—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —we had to extend the capital budget to deliver the facilities that the people of South Australia so desperately need. There are a range of projects that are fixing the mess. In particular, under the previous government they tried to concentrate all of their services into the three major spine hospitals: the Flinders Medical Centre, the Lyell McEwin Hospital and, of course, the Royal Adelaide Hospital. They downgraded or closed—or closed—hospitals that weren't part of that arrangement.

By contrast, we took to the people of South Australia an ambitious program to upgrade those other hospitals, whether it be Noarlunga Hospital or The Queen Elizabeth Hospital or, of course, the fabulous Modbury Hospital.

I can tell you, when I'm out with people, speaking to people about what is important to them, they love the fact that we are investing in The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. We have restored those cardiac services that those took away. We're building the facilities that are required. At the Flinders Medical Centre, sir, you would be more than aware that one of the things that we're doing there—

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

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will resume his seat. The member for West Torrens on a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sir, we are two minutes into this question and the Premier is debating the question—98.

The SPEAKER: Order! There's no point of order. The Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. I find it extraordinary that people would think that it's debate to provide information to the house about the incredible upgrade to health services that we are providing in South Australia. I was just about to advise the house about the excellent work being done at the Flinders Medical Centre.

The emergency department there was significantly undersized, and what we are doing, with a program that we have brought forward, is doubling the size of the adult emergency capacity at that hospital. That is a project that should have been done years and years ago. That will have a flow-on benefit to Noarlunga Hospital, to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but most importantly to the people of South Australia.

What we are also doing, while upgrading the vital health services in South Australia, is we are providing jobs. That is unequivocally the most important issue at the moment outside of the immediate coronavirus health issues. Providing those jobs, whether they be in construction, whether they be in the building sector, whether they be in the hospitality sector, whether they be in the education sector, these are the things—

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

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will resume his seat.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —that keep us motivated every single day to come into this house. Thank you, sir.

The SPEAKER: I think the Premier has concluded his answer. The member for West Torrens on a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: My point of order, sir, was that the question was, 'Why hasn't major construction work started at The QEH development?' and the Premier was speaking about Flinders Medical Centre, Modbury Hospital and other hospitals. I was going to raise standing order 98 about debate, but the Premier has finished his answer.

The SPEAKER: I will address the merits of the point of order. On the point of order, Minister for Energy and Mining?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: if the member opposite does want to be finicky, then actually the question was out of order according to standing order 97.

The SPEAKER: You are a bit late, Minister for Energy and Mining. On the point of order raised by the member for West Torrens, I consider that the Premier's answer was germane to the question—to use a phrase I understand a former Speaker has used. I have listened carefully. I understand the Premier has concluded his answer.

Before I call on the leader, I think for a sixth time, I warn the leader for a second and final time for interjections in the course of that answer. I warn the member for Kaurna, I warn the member for Reynell, and I remind the house of the importance of listening to the question and the answer. This is your question time. I call on the leader.