Ambulance Ramping

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier apologise to South Australians for the worst ramping levels in history? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Labor has delivered more ramping in two years than the former Liberal government saw in its entire four-year term, all despite promising to fix ramping at the election.

The SPEAKER: That element of purported fact of course is going to be subject to debate, which is the first telltale sign that it may not be an accepted fact. Nevertheless, I am going to turn to the Premier.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:27): If the opposition is determined to have an analysis of statistics, they are welcome to do so. What that will demonstrate is that we have had a trajectory of growth in ramping hours that has been sustained from the former Labor government to the former Liberal government and, of course, what we have seen more recently. The challenge—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Colton! The member for Morialta! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The challenge before us—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —is to turn that around, which is what this government is determined to do. For people in the system who are working day in, day out to address this challenge, from frontline nurses and doctors right up to the CEO of Health, what gives them hope is that we are actually delivering on a plan to make a difference. That actually matters, because—

Members interjecting:

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

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What we know is that it actually matters. This is a problem that people reasonably care about. We can talk about why they care about it in just a moment. It is a wicked problem that we see around the country—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: This is where there is a degree of contrast, which I am resisting elevating, but this is where there is a degree of contrast because, on this side of the house, what we have isn't just a political point; rather, what we have is a comprehensive policy.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is warned.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We actually have a program and a policy—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Frome! The member for Morialta is on two warnings.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —a program and a policy to employ—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —hundreds more doctors, hundreds more nurses and hundreds more ambulance officers and to actually implement a hundred more beds.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The point of contrast not just between the behaviour of the two sides of the chamber but between a policy and a plan—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and a complete absence of a policy and plan is startling.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert! Premier, please be seated. The member for Morialta is on a final warning.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The contrast between the existence of a policy, a plan and a program and the absence of it is startling and one that the electorate is conscious of. What I would seek to remind—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Adelaide, member for Elder, member for Frome! Member for Hartley, you are now on a final warning. There is some fresh vigour and enthusiasm; it is a new parliamentary year. It will not surprise you to know that the standing orders still apply.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: In the short time remaining, one of the reasons that South Australians care about ramping is that when ramping gets exceptionally bad they worry about whether or not the ambulance is going to roll up when they call 000, and not just roll up but roll up on time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What we know is that ambulance response times today—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —are exceptionally better than what they were when we came to office, and we continue to dedicate ourselves to that effort because that is what makes a difference to people being able to rely on a service when they are in their desperate time of need.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Morphett is warned.