Health Services

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): Supplementary arising from the answer as given.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order on my right!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Given the minister has admitted that they are cutting nurses during the global pandemic, will the minister now cease the current round and future rounds of sacking of doctors, nurses and other staff and all TVSPs in the health system?

The PRESIDENT: There was a lot of opinion in there, but I will give the minister the opportunity to respond if he wishes.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:26): The honourable member is asking me a question about TVSPs, and the most important of those four letters is V. V is 'voluntary', so we have health staff in the health workforce who have been given the opportunity to—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —register their interest in getting a TVSP.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, be quiet. Minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: This is a Labor Party that stands up for workers but actually refuses the right of workers to choose the manner of their retirement. That is how out of touch this Labor Party is. As I said, and obviously the honourable Leader of the Opposition did not even—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —listen to my answer to his first question, in fact in the last financial year we have added more than 600 nurses, doctors, surgeons and midwives.