Emergency Departments

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): My question is to the Premier. I thank the Premier for his earlier answer referencing presentations. Will the Premier release data regarding emergency department presentations, or will it go aside like ambulance ramping statistics and the modelling?

The SPEAKER: Was there a point of order? Leader of Government Business.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Sir, unacceptable argument—standing order 97. I ask you to rule the question out of order.

The SPEAKER: I am going to give the leader an opportunity to rephrase the question.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier release the presentation statistics to our emergency departments and hospitals that he previously referenced in his prior answer?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:40): I don't have any statistics on hand.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I was relying on a verbal briefing. I meet with the health minister several times per week. We have a dedicated meeting every Tuesday morning. That has been information that has been provided to me. It is also information that I have gathered from attending the national—

Mr Brown interjecting:

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

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It's also information, of course, that I have gathered from being a member of the national cabinet—a great honour and privilege to serve on the national cabinet during this pandemic. The issues that confront us here in South Australia are commonplace right across the country at the moment—

Mr Malinauskas: Well, release the numbers to verify it.

The SPEAKER: Order! The leader is called to order. Interjections will cease. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As I was saying, there is a very significant issue right around the country at the moment. I think the reasons for that are pretty obvious. There are greater level presentations. There is a higher level acuity of care and there are longer bed stays at the moment. This is one of the reasons why we have made—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The leader has put his question. The answer is being given.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: That's why, of course, we have put in place a $123 million package to make sure that we can be as prepared as possible. We haven't been sitting on our hands since coming to government. We are very significantly increasing the expenditure which goes into the operating budget for SA Health and the capital budget.

As I was saying only a few moments ago, we are putting more beds ready for when those expected numbers come to South Australia. I just draw the house's attention to some of those beds going into our own facilities at the Modbury Hospital, at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and at the Repat. It begs the question, sir: what was the Labor Party doing with the Modbury Hospital, the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and the Repat?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Downgrade, downgrade, close. Imagine, sir, if they were in charge during this pandemic!

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order. Member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir: standing order 98 means the Premier can't debate the answer. He began to debate the answer then much like a session at karaoke.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for West Torrens. I have allowed the Premier some latitude. I do draw his attention to standing order 98 and bring him back to the substance of the question.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: So, because of that demand, we are putting more beds into the system; 46—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The exchange between the leader and the Premier needs to cease. The leader is putting his question, has put his question, the Premier is answering.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: To be clear, sir, there is no exchange. I am being yelled at. I am directing all of my answers through you, sir, so an exchange would require me to respond to these completely unsatisfactory and unparliamentary interferences, which are disorderly and which I wouldn't do. I am directing all of my answers to you, sir, and providing you with the necessary information that you require. One of the things that we do know is, under our COVID-ready plan, we are putting 46 new beds into the Modbury Hospital, 38 new beds at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and nine at the Repat.

The SPEAKER: Point of order. Premier, there is a point of order. The leader on a point of order.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Point of order, sir: debate. The question was not about the former Labor government's investment in Modbury Hospital. The question was very clearly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I will hear out the point of order.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Can I finish the point of order, sir?

The SPEAKER: Leader.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. We wouldn't want to respond to yelling across the chamber. The question was very specific. It was asking the Premier to release data around presentations to our emergency departments. Will the Premier release it or not? The question wasn't about the former Labor government's investment of $90 million plus in Modbury Hospital.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is reasonably persuasive. Premier, can I draw your attention again to standing order 98. I appreciate that your answer so far has been wideranging.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I refer the leader to my answer two questions ago.