Repatriation General Hospital

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:05): Supplementary arising from the answer: will the minister rule out the privatisation of any or all services provided at the Repat or, like every other hospital clinical service, are they completely up for grabs to the highest bidder as well?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:05): I just wonder if this guy is a punching bag or something. You almost seem sadomasochistic. He was a member of the government. He sat around the table and decided that the former Labor government would break its promise to never ever close the Repat, and what were they going to do? No, they weren't going to bequest it to the public benevolent uses of the people of South Australia. They put it up for sale. They wanted to privatise it.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: So that's a no; everything's up for grabs?

The Hon. S.G. WADE: No, I can assure you that we will not do what Labor did.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I have been sat down.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Supplementary?

The PRESIDENT: No, I am about to remonstrate with the Leader of the Opposition and then I will hear your point of order. Let the minister answer your own questions, Leader of the Opposition. I know you are passionate on the issue. The Hon. Mr Hunter, are you asking a supplementary or—

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I am indeed, sir.

The PRESIDENT: —making a point of order? May we hear your supplementary?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Thank you, Mr President.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Mr President, I haven't finished my answer.

The PRESIDENT: Have you not finished your answer? Hon. Mr Hunter, sit down. Let the minister finish and then we will come to your supplementary.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Opposition, we do not need commentary. Minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: It's a very interesting tactic by the opposition. They think that if they disrupt the interests of the house, they can move to the next supplementary because no, nothing will stop the Leader of the Opposition being reminded of the treachery of the Labor Party that, under Mike Rann, promised that a Labor government would never ever sell the Repat. Not only did they sell it, they put a condition on the sale process that no SA Health facility could be on the site. Why would we punish public patients by saying that not only are we going to take your asset away but we are going to make sure that you can't get services there? What hypocrites.

They were willing to sell this asset well below value. I think I would be able to use, in terms of value for money, perhaps three or four of the buildings for the value of what you sold it for. In other words, I think the ongoing health value of that site is three times the sale value. The former Labor government was willing to sell an asset well below the public utility for public services. They would break a promise to the people of South Australia and also put a bar on public patients being able to receive public health services on the site. It is absolutely bizarre.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, your supplementary.