Transforming Health

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health a question about Transforming Health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: There has been a lot of spin around the changes to our health system, particularly with the change of guard to the new minister, who would make a great painter and decorator as he puts this magnificent gloss over what he now believes is the most advanced and well-serviced health system in the world, from what I hear in the parliament. When you get out of fantasyland and actually get into the real world you discover that is far from how the community feels.

In fact, I understand there is a big meeting tonight at Noarlunga about concerns regarding the Flinders Medical Centre and Noarlunga Hospital. So, all is not well out there in 'voterland' when it comes to health. Therefore, I ask the following questions of the minister, and if he cannot answer all of them now I ask that he take them on notice and bring back some answers as soon as possible:

1. Can the minister provide an estimate, or the actual absolute figure if he has it, of the amount of money the government has spent (Health SA) on the planning, building work and general health reform under Transforming Health?

2. Transforming Health was meant to save the government money while improving the health system. What was the savings target at the beginning of this process and what savings have actually been made?

3. What was the cost, the setback, of the government changing its mind on The QEH, the Lyell McEwin and the Modbury Hospital?

4. What was the final cost of building the new RAH and who will actually own it in 2046?

5. How much money has the government spent on health advertising in the past year, and is the woman featured in the commercial, A. Brown, a member of the Labor Party?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:47): I thank the member for his series of questions. There are a number there and I will endeavour to answer them as best I can; for those that I can't, I will take up his invitation to take them on notice. I will certainly take on notice his question about who a member of the Labor Party is and is not. I haven't received any specific advice around whether or not A. Brown—

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: Ms A. Brown.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: —whether Ms A. Brown is a member of the Labor Party or not, but it is a free country and we have lots of people who, of their own volition, choose to be members of the Labor Party, in fact thousands. I understand entirely why they decide to take that decision; in fact, that is probably a good segue—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: —into answering other components of the Hon. Mr Brokenshire's questions. There are a lot of people who choose to be members of the Labor Party, and the reason so many people—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Take your seat for a moment, minister. It is totally inappropriate to have a conversation across the floor between the two leaders of the house. The two of them should actually be setting an example rather than causing the problem. I want the minister to be able to answer the question without interjection. Minister.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr President. What I was saying, in response to the honourable member's question about membership of the Australian Labor Party, is that we have a very large membership of the Australian Labor Party in South Australia. In fact, I am happy to report to the chamber that there is a growing number—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Let's not get antagonistic. I think those sorts of remarks are totally inappropriate while the minister is trying to answer a very serious series of questions. I ask you to desist.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr President. I was talking about a growing membership of the Australian Labor Party, and I dare say that I have reason to believe that the Australian Labor Party's membership in South Australia far exceeds that of any other political party registered in South Australia. One of the reasons that would contribute towards that, of course, is the fact that many South Australians place a high value on public health services. When genuine and ordinary South Australians contemplate which political party most stands up for the delivery of public health services, they know that the only party that has public health delivery in its DNA is the Australian Labor Party. That's why they join up.

The Hon. Mr Brokenshire asked what are the sums of money that the Australian Labor Party has committed to delivering better health services in South Australia. Let me start by answering the key one that he referred to, and that is the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The Royal Adelaide Hospital represents a cost in excess of $2.1 billion to the South Australian taxpayer in terms of building it. That represents a huge commitment that this government has made to ensuring that we have the world's best quaternary hospital at the disposal of South Australian taxpayers. For anyone who has taken the time to go and have a look through the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, and I am sure that the Hon. Mr Brokenshire has taken up that—

The PRESIDENT: Will the honourable minister address the chair.

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: I'm interested in country health. Country health's going backwards.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: The honourable member shakes his head, Mr President. He hasn't even taken the time—

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: I haven't been there yet.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Well, there we go, the Hon. Mr Brokenshire has just interjected by saying that he hasn't gone through the Royal Adelaide Hospital, yet he is obviously taking up every opportunity to criticise it, having not once actually gone through the hospital himself. It's an extraordinary position.

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: I don't want to visit your hospital unless I'm sick.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Well, there we go—

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: Even then I'd probably be going elsewhere.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: There we go. For those people who have taken the time—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Those people who have taken up the opportunity—and I would encourage every member in this place to go through the new Royal Adelaide Hospital—have been nothing but impressed at the new facility and what it is capable of delivering to the South Australian public. Of course, there have been other investments that the state government is making when it comes to our public hospital system, because we understand that delivering a world-class health service can't just be done in the city alone. It needs to be in other facilities as well, which is why we have committed $52 million towards further upgrading the Lyell McEwin, which is, of course, on the back of a lot of other capital investment that has been made.

We are doubling the size of the emergency department at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, which will be a great result for residents of the northern suburbs and also for many people who access the Lyell McEwin from our regional areas as well. We know residents of the Mid North frequently attend the Lyell McEwin Hospital, so it will be a worthwhile investment. Recently, we have delivered a $187 million upgrade to the Flinders Medical Centre—a huge investment—which will deliver a far superior service to what many people previously had access to in buildings that were built in the 1950s.

Recently, the state government has announced a $250 million new commitment to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which is great news for residents in the western suburbs, who will be able to get access to a brand-new emergency department, along with new theatres and, of course, an expanded car park. We have also committed approximately $9 million to the Modbury Hospital to see a new service there as well.

So, the honourable member is right to ask questions around the government's commitment to providing an improved service when it comes to public health in South Australia. This government is serious about it. The honourable member is right to point out that it comes with a cost. In fact, it is a very substantial cost—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: It's an investment.

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: The Hon. Mr Hunter is right: it's a substantial cost that represents a very substantial investment in public health in South Australia—one that only this government can deliver. It's a Labor government demonstrating its Labor values about ensuring that every South Australian gets access to world-class health care in modern, world-class facilities.