House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-01 Daily Xml

Contents

ROYAL ADELAIDE HOSPITAL

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:35): My question is again to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Why did the minister receive from the health department, during the caretaker period of the 2010 election campaign, a detailed briefing on the Liberal Party's plan to rebuild the Royal Adelaide Hospital?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (14:35): I thank the member for the question. The question is: why did I receive it? I am not sure about the implication that I should have rejected something the department was sending to me. That seems to be the logic of what she is saying.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: All I can say is that I do not fully recollect the various documents that came up during that period of time. I am not sure what the point is. The Liberal Party put out some propositions which were absurd to most people, and the health department gave me some advice on the costings and the logic of it. If you recall, Madam Speaker, the design that was proposed at one stage had floors that were about four feet or 4½ feet between the floor and the ceiling—big enough for a hobbit to use. It would be a hospital for hobbits, I seem to recall.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I can't recall the details, but all I can say is if they sent it up to me I would have received it because they sent it up to me.