Question Time

Health Services

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding health services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Yesterday, four of our largest hospitals reached Code White status as reports came in of ambulance crews unable to respond to seven priority 2 urgent cases across southern Adelaide as a result of ramping and understaffing. Also yesterday, we learnt that the government has cut 321 health jobs in the last financial year, including 114 nurses. This comes off the back of last month, where ambulances were ramped for a collective 1,755 hours, the second worst month ever on record and a 45 per cent increase on the previous month. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why has the minister decided to make 114 nursing jobs redundant amidst a global pandemic?

2. Does the minister believe it is acceptable that, under his watch, the highest ramping figures ever have been recorded in September last year and the next highest in August this year?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for his question because it gives me an opportunity to address the scurrilous spin of the Labor opposition. Members will remember that earlier in the last financial year the—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Members on my left will remain silent. Minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The Labor opposition was claiming out of the last budget that we, being the Marshall Liberal government, were committed to cutting—sorry, 1,140 health staff would lose their jobs. What has actually happened in the last financial year is we have added—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I am interested in listening to the answer, the Hon. Mr Maher.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Rather than 1,140 health staff losing their jobs, in the last financial year we have added more than 600 nurses, doctors, surgeons and midwives. Of course, in that financial year, there have been some staff who have taken TVSPs. That is an important part of refreshing and reshaping our workforce, but in net terms—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —there are 600 more people in our workforce.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: How many more? Highest ramping on your watch.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Six hundred.