Question Time

Ambulance Ramping

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Leader of the Government in this place about broken election promises.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The ramping statistics for May were released on the weekend, which show that the Premier is responsible for the worst ramping in the history of South Australia despite his promise to fix it. I remind this chamber of the words the Premier himself used on 18 March 2022 when he said, 'There is only one way to fix the ramping crisis and that is to vote Labor tomorrow.' In May, 4,773 hours were lost on the ramp. Six South Australians have died waiting for ambulances, and what is even worse is that last week's elective surgery in this state has been cancelled indefinitely.

The Leader of the Government in this place on 27 February 2022 said to the people of South Australia that, 'We will fix the ramping crisis.' My question to the Leader of the Government in this place is: what does he now say to those members of the South Australian community who have been ramped for record hours outside of hospitals over the last two years and whose elective surgeries have been cancelled indefinitely?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for her question. The honourable member has helpfully answered most of the question in the statement that she has given, but I would say that there is record investment—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —in the health system.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Supplementary, Mr President?

The PRESIDENT: I don't even know how I can rule on it, because I couldn't hear what his answer was because of the noise coming from that side.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: I'm happy for him to say it again.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: I answered the question.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Supplementary?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! If you want to ask a supplementary question, stand up. The honourable Leader of the Opposition, you have a supplementary question. I will listen to it.