House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-10-23 Daily Xml

Contents

Minister for Health

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:43): My question is to the Acting Premier. Why hasn't the Acting Premier asked the Minister for Health to resign after he publicly admitted to misleading parliament on two occasions?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Acting Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:43): I thank the member for the question because it does give me the opportunity, which I am sure the Premier would endorse if he were here—the answer to the question is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —because the Minister for Health is an outstanding Minister for Health. He has been at the stewardship of a difficult portfolio left in an appalling mess by the former government, completely corroborated by the Auditor-General's Report today, which identifies in the 'Health budget performance' as clearly abysmal and under major need of reform. So I have every confidence—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —as I know the Premier does, in not only the performance but the operation and the dedication of the Minister for Health in addressing a difficult portfolio to deal with an absolute cacophony of layers of neglect and incompetence in the health administration of this state—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Kaurna!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —together with decisions—

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Ramsay is called to order.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —which have utterly failed the people of South Australia, like the closure of the Repat Hospital by the former government. We on this side will not be lectured about the standards of ministers, when our Minister for Health is one of the most outstanding ministers, completely dedicated to the rebuilding—

Ms Stinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —of health services in this state and he will continue to have our confidence.

The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel has been patiently waiting; he has the call.