Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-29 Daily Xml

Contents

HOSPITAL PARKING

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Health a question on hospital car parking.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Two or three years ago the government, as a budget measure, announced the sale of hospital car parks. Whilst no official figure was ever confirmed, the suggestions were that a budget revenue figure of up to $90 million was speculated by the government in terms of the potential sale of hospital car parks. Mr President, it will not surprise you that that has engendered some controversy, with some people supporting the proposition and a number of other stakeholders opposing it. Since that announcement, there has been little further information provided by the government in terms of the implementation of that particular policy position, so my questions to the Minister for Health are:

1. Can the minister update the government's position on the budget announcement of some two to three years ago on the sale of hospital car parks in South Australia? In particular, can he outline the proposed timing of the sale process and the arrangements for it; and, whilst clearly he will not indicate the expected revenue from the sale process, can he also indicate in which particular budget years in the forward estimates Treasury and Health are assuming the proceeds will be received by government?

2. Given the recent announcements in relation to the move of the Women's and Children's Hospital, and the ongoing controversy about the inadequate car parking for nurses and families at the Women's and Children's Hospital, can the minister indicate what action, if any, the government is now going to undertake in relation to resolving the car parking problems being experienced by patients and families at the Women's and Children's Hospital particularly in the period between now and 2023 when supposedly, if re-elected, the government is going to complete the new Women's and Children's Hospital on North Terrace?

3. Given the government's announcement in relation to a possible move of the Women's and Children's Hospital, if the government was re-elected in 2014, will it be doing nothing to resolve the car parking problems at the Women's and Children's Hospital over the period between now and the potential move to the North Terrace site?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his six most important questions and I undertake to take those to the Minister for Health and Ageing in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.