Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Attorney-General representing the Minister for Planning on the topic of the new Women's and Children's Hospital.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Simms has the call.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: In the lead-up to the—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Sorry, the Hon. Mr Simms.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Ms Girolamo, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, I am trying to listen to the Hon. Mr Simms.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: I think they will like this one, Mr President. In the lead-up to the last state election the then leader of the Labor opposition—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The honourable Leader of the Government!

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: —Peter Malinauskas, published a policy document entitled Heritage, under the banner 'For the Future'. In the document under the heading 'Protect our state heritage places', it stated that:

The community was shocked when the Marshall Liberal government announced it would demolish the Waite Gatehouse—the building was rescued only because people protested, signed petitions and insisted that demolition was not necessary. This occurred after the Marshall Liberal government decided to allow Shed 26 in Port Adelaide to be demolished despite the Heritage Council approving it for listing on the State Heritage Register.

The document goes on to state:

To ensure that demolition cannot occur at the whim of a future government, Labor will legislate to better protect State Heritage Places, including requiring a public report by the SA Heritage Council being prepared and laid in parliament before any consideration of a demolition approval and full public consultation so that all South Australians can have their views heard.

Earlier today, the government announced their plans to build the new South Australian Women's and Children's Hospital on the heritage-listed site, the Thebarton Police Barracks. The century-old buildings have been listed on the State Heritage Register since 1985. My questions, therefore, to the minister are:

1. Will the government embark on a full public consultation period in relation to the proposed hospital site?

2. Will a report from the Heritage Council be prepared and laid in the parliament before demolishing the heritage-listed Thebarton Police Barracks, as promised during the election?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for his question. As he noted, ministers in the other place are responsible. I suspect it is not just the planning minister but also the environment and heritage minister. I will take those questions on notice and seek a reply from the ministers responsible in these areas.