SA Pathology

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:14): Supplementary question: the minister used the phrase 'no plans'. As the leader of the house now has used that phrase in the past and then subsequently privatised, is the Minister for Health's saying 'no plans to privatise' code for 'that at some future time we will privatise'?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:14): Let us consider the pledge signed by former premier Rann, which said, 'No privatisations under Labor'. Then we had hotel services at a number of our public hospitals in South Australia. In relation to radiology, three of our major hospitals have some or all of their radiology services provided by private providers. Fourteen country hospitals have their radiology services provided by private providers. And this is all in the context of Labor's pledge of, 'No privatisations under Labor'.

Then we have the NRAH, a $2.4 billion privately built hospital; it will be a private hospital for another 30 years, over which time we will make payments to the PPP of around $11 billion. This is a party that wants to accuse us of having plans for privatisation. I would like to make the point to Ms Pnevmatikos—

The PRESIDENT: Through me.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Through you, sir—if the former government went to a longstanding consultation with staff and the community about their plans for the NRAH? Did the former Labor government go through a longstanding consultation and independent reviews before they went to the hotel services and radiology services going out to the private sector? No.

It is this government that will not act in relation to SA Pathology until there has been an independent review, full consultation with our staff and a full opportunity for the public sector to meet efficiencies consistent with the public sector and the private sector counterparts, both in this state and interstate.