Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:28): A supplementary question: when the minister assures the house that the Premier's commitment will be delivered, could he clarify whether the Premier's commitment to retain all cardiac services at The QEH, including the cath lab, will mean that the cath lab will continue to operate 24/7, not on a nine to five basis, as is currently being proposed by his department?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for his question because it gives me the opportunity to reiterate the Premier's commitment, which of course we will be honouring. He made a clear commitment; that will be delivered upon, including the $270 million investment that this state government is—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Two hundred and seventy million dollars is being invested in The QEH. Now, that is $270 million more than what those opposite have committed in the lead-up to the next election. So, all of that will be honoured. We look forward to delivering for the people of the western suburbs in respect to The QEH. We are the party that is serious about The QEH.

I know on this side of the house there is absolutely nobody here that has ever contemplated the privatisation of services at The QEH. I hope those opposite can attest to that principle. I wonder whether or not they can. I would welcome members of the opposition categorically ruling themselves out from ever having had anything to do with plans for privatising service at The QEH. We will never be party to such concepts or plans, but I am sure that all members opposite are in exactly the same position.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, take your seat.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not want to hear any—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: It makes it much more difficult to control the house when ministers, who should know much better, are interjecting across at them. The honourable Minister for Health is trying to answer a very important question and he should be able to do that without any interjection. I hope the members of this chamber will respect that right. Minister.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: I was just concluding and welcoming the opportunity from the Hon. Mr Wade to reiterate the state government's commitment to the extraordinary investment we are making in The QEH. We are serious about putting funds into public hospitals in South Australia. The QEH is, of course, one of those key public hospitals and iconic institutions that should always remain in taxpayers' hands. I am sure that those opposite would never have had anything to do with any idea in the past to privatise The QEH. I am sure that if that information is out there, it will be found, but I am sure it doesn't even exist because no-one could even contemplate such a proposition.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, take your seat. The honourable Leader of the Opposition, that is not an impressive word to use across the chamber, so I would like you to withdraw it.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I will withdraw that, but I would like the minister to stick to the question—

The PRESIDENT: No, I just want you to withdraw it.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: —that he was asked and not bring up furphies.

The PRESIDENT: Sit down. Supplementary, the Hon. Mr Wade.