SA Ambulance Service

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (15:09): On that, my question is to the Premier. Why has the state government made a cut of $11.5 million of total expenditure for the SA Ambulance Service over two years? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Leave granted.

Mr PICTON: Yesterday in question time, the Premier pointed to total expenditure figures for the SA Ambulance Service. I therefore checked those figures and can outline the total expenditure figures as published in the last state budget. In 2018-19, the total expenditure was $324.8 million, then it reduced in 2019 to the total expenditure of $319.8 million and now in the latest state budget there is a further reduction in proposed total expenditure down to $313.3 million. This equals a reduction over two years of $11.5 million.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:10): I refer the member to my answer yesterday and I encourage him—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to reflect on the difference between an 'actual' and a 'budget'. He seems to be getting the two quite confused.