Public Hospitals

446 The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK ().19 August 2025). Can the Minister for Health and Wellbeing advise—

1. Why did the cost of the Modbury Health Precinct increase by $13.5 million to $130.5 million in the financial year 2024-25?

2. Why did the cost of the 26 additional beds at The QEH increase by $6.4 million to $20.1 million in the financial year 2024-25?

3. Why did the ambulance station budget increase by $7.8 million to $126.7 million in the financial year 2024-25?

4. Why did the Kingscote Hospital upgrade increase by $600,000 to $10.6 million in the financial year 2024-25?

5. Why did the construction of the new ambulance headquarters increase by $14 million to $134 million in the financial year 2024-25?

6. Why did the new Mount Barker Hospital project increase by $45 million to $366 million the financial year 2024-25?

7. Why was the budget for the new Women's and Children's Hospital underspent by $164.3 million in the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25?

8. Can you explain how the project is both on time and on budget despite this recurrent underspend?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has advised:

The Malinauskas Labor government has committed additional funding to each of these projects due to a variety of factors, including latent conditions, land acquisition costs, decanting of clinical units following consultation, and an uplift in costs in a highly competitive construction market.

Each of these projects have been carefully designed in consultation with clinicians to ensure they are functional and fit-for-purpose for supporting hospital functions well into the future.