Question Time

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister who I assume is the Leader of the Government here representing the Premier about the energy targets for the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The State Strategic Plan was launched with much trumpeting by the Premier in March 2004. One of its targets was to improve the energy efficiency of government buildings, specifically to cut energy use in government buildings by 25 per cent within 10 years. The audit committee's assessment in June 2006 was that this target was 'unlikely to be achieved'. Last year's progress report on the State's Strategic Plan contains a little gem. It says:

Given that Health is by far the largest energy consuming portfolio across government, achieving the 25 per cent target will depend to a large extent on major developments and, in particular, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

We know a little bit about the new hospital but not much at this stage, unfortunately, because the government is trying to keep as much of it secret as possible. However, buried deep within the new Royal Adelaide Hospital planning statement is the proposed development's key energy objectives. My questions to the Premier are:

1. Why, when South Australia is failing to meet its energy efficiency targets for government buildings, will the hospital be built with just a four-star rating, with a score as low as 45, when a six-star rating, with a score above 75, signifies world leadership?

2. Where is the Premier's leadership?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:28): I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for his question. He raises in his question the leadership of the Premier. We all know that the leadership the Premier has shown is to commit to building a brand-new, state-of-the-art hospital in this state, something that honourable members opposite could not bring themselves to do; instead they campaigned in a negative, carping way all through the last state election to rebuild the hospital on its current site.

As we all know, the people of South Australia returned this government on a very clear pledge to build a new hospital and that hospital, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, will begin construction, as we all know, and it will be a state-of-the-art, fantastic facility for this state. It will be one of the best public hospitals in this country and this government will be setting the agenda for providing quality health care into the future.

That is the leadership that the Premier has shown, unlike honourable members opposite. All they can do is carp and complain and try to run down the state of South Australia and try to tell the people of this state that they do not deserve a brand new hospital. This government will remain committed to the promises it made at the last election to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art hospital which will service South Australians for generations to come. In relation to the questions that the honourable Leader of the Opposition raises in relation to energy, I will refer those to the appropriate minister in the other place and bring back a response.