Keith and District Hospital

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:38): Supplementary arising from that answer: when will the minister sign off on the business case and long-term funding proposal for the Keith hospital?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:38): One thing that Labor really can't understand, if you are not doing centralism, is board governance.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The opposition asked a question. Have the grace to listen to the minister's answer. The minister.

The Hon. R.P. Wortley interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: This government made a very clear commitment before the last election that, not only were we going to deal with a $140 million country capital works backlog, we were also going to put decisions back into the hands of local people through local health networks. So primarily—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —this work is being led by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network and by the board.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: We are not going to usurp the authority that we have a democratic mandate—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —to put in the hands of the people of the South-East.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Of course, that has to be in collaboration with the department. As minister, I am very keen to see a positive outcome.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: It is a bit rich, coming from the people opposite. I think it was the—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I can't hear the minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I think in 2010 the state budget had a huge hit—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: When are you going to do anything, Stephen?

The PRESIDENT: The Leader of the Opposition is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —against the Keith hospital.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Deliver on your own promise.

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: It had a huge hit against the Keith hospital. Since this government has been elected, we have provided more than $3 million—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —to the Keith and District Hospital. We have provided more in funding support since the election than the former government provided—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —in seven years.