Health Policy

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:27): Supplementary: has—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Yes, I appreciate your point of order, but I can't hear the question because my two frontbenchers of the Liberal Party are talking across the aisle. Allow the member—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you are cutting across your own member seeking to ask a supplementary question. Please continue.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you, Mr President. I note the minister talks about listening to his clinicians. Has he spoken to the 46 clinicians who wrote to the previous minister outlining their serious clinical concerns with the proposal for a stand-alone high dependency unit at Modbury Hospital? Will the minister also ignore the advice that they are giving?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:28): It is an interesting question. I suppose the supplementary question will be: after I have spoken to the 46 who signed that letter, should I speak to the 107 who signed—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Excuse me.

The PRESIDENT: Let the minister speak.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The honourable member wants me to speak to the 46 people who signed that letter. Should I also speak to the 107 people who marked—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Name one. Name a single one.

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you have ample questions to ask this question time. Wait for your opportunity to be called or have another member from the Labor Party ask the question subsequently as question time goes through. Otherwise, do not call out ancillary or supplementary questions at your leisure when the minister is on his feet.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: As I said, I could consult the 46 who signed that letter. I could consult the 107—103 of whom supported the restoration of an HDU. But to demonstrate my openness to a range of clinical opinions, when I visited Modbury Hospital with the member for Florey, the member for Newland and the member for King, I specifically convened a group of clinicians, some of whom I knew vehemently opposed our proposal, some of whom I knew vehemently supported it. That demonstrates what I have been saying to this council repeatedly. I will continue to be open to a range of clinical advice but, in the end, this government will take responsibility.

One of the pieces of advice we have also taken into consideration is the demand of the people of the north-east that they were not willing to tolerate Labor's downgrade of their community hospital. That is why Frances Bedford is the member for Florey and not one of your party. That is why the member for Newland and the member for King are in this parliament. Together with other elements of the Liberal agenda, we have shown that we not only listen to clinicians' advice but that we also listen to the people who elected us.