Macular Disease

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:19): I have a supplementary question arising out of the minister's answer. Why is the minister refusing to oppose his own government's $1 billion in health cuts whilst, at the same time, trying to raise issues in relation to federal health cuts, which he knows the state Liberal Party is already on the public record as opposing?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:19): Again, leading with his chin. This is a bloke who led the Liberal government to the astounding result it got in the state election; this is the bloke who, when he was a minister, closed, what was it, 72 schools or 76 schools? I cannot remember the exact number. This is a bloke who has a track record.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: There might have been 48 that were directly closed but there were another 30 or so that actually merged into another body; but he closed them. That is his record, and his record on the small target policy in the last election campaign, which served them so very well. As I said, Dr Duncan McFetridge, in the other place, has had the courage to stand up to these federal attacks, but not the Hon. Mr Lucas. I have not seen him on the public record criticising the federal Liberal government for ripping cash out of health and education, which will impact on the most vulnerable people in our community.

When Liberals cut that is okay, but not when the Labor government has to act in response, to backfill that hole that his compatriots in Canberra are making in every state. And it is not just the Labor states of South Australia and soon to be Victoria; it is actually Liberal states as well that are being impacted by these cuts. Liberal premiers are standing up with Premier Jay Weatherill to attack these hard, cold, ideological cuts on the most vulnerable people in our community.

But no, the Hon. Mr Lucas is forming part of the cheer squad for those cuts. He thinks Liberal cuts are fine. When they take $8 billion out of the state budget for health and education he actually wants to say, 'Oh well, that is nothing to do with us. What are you guys going to do about it?' Wait and see.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Let's move this question time on.