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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-06-05 Daily Xml
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Supply Bill 2014

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading (resumed on motion).

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (16:50): I rise to speak in support of the Supply Bill 2014. The Supply Bill 2014 provides for $3.941 billion to be appropriated to the Consolidated Account. This will provide sufficient appropriation to meet the government's expenditure requirement from 1 July 2014 until approximately the end of September, and it will ensure that government services can continue to be provided until assent is given to the Appropriation Bill 2014. These funds will be administered by the Department of Treasury and Finance to agencies in accordance with the Supply Act and financial controls governing public accounts.

There is no doubt that the framing of the Appropriation Bill 2014 will provide the government with substantial challenges, given the recent federal budget which sees a significant reduction in federal government funds available to the state government over the forward estimates—something in the order of $898 million. That is a massive hit which will unfortunately lead to a reduction of services to ordinary South Australians.

Two big ticket items in every budget are public health and education. Across Australia, $50 billion of federal funding has been cut from hospitals over the next decade and a further $30 billion from schools; that is $80 billion of cuts proposed in both public health and education over the next decade—a massive hit.

South Australia is blessed with a great number of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who dedicate their lives to the health and wellbeing of our community. I commend each and every one of these individuals. In fact, the state government has worked hard over the past 12 years to make South Australia's health system the best in the nation, with more doctors and nurses per head of population than any other state.

Last week, I visited the Riverland General Hospital at Berri. The state government has invested over $36 million in redeveloping this important regional medical facility servicing over 30,000 Riverland residents. The redeveloped Riverland hospital sees a revamped emergency department, with two new resuscitation bays, three treatment bays, a consulting room, a new reception and new office space. The new ED also includes a fast-track treatment room for patients coming in with very minor injuries so that they can be treated quickly by a nurse, taking pressure off the capacity to treat more serious injuries.

The hospital also has a new rehabilitation unit which is open to both inpatients and outpatients. The new purpose-built rehab unit will enable patients to come home from hospital in Adelaide earlier and receive their rehabilitation closer to their homes, friends and families. The unit includes a new gym, three treatment bays, five consulting rooms, a group rehabilitation area, an external exercise courtyard, dining and lounge facilities. It also includes special training areas with a kitchen, bathroom and laundry to enable patients to relearn basic skills, such as preparing their meals and washing clothes. The redevelopment of the Riverland General Hospital has also seen two new theatres, a procedure room, a new central sterilisation department and a new outpatient consulting suite constructed, and wards have been converted into single-bed rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

The new mental health unit is being finalised and should open in July. The Riverland General Hospital redevelopment is an example of the investment the state government has made in the state's public health system and to regional South Australia. The government wishes to continue to provide quality public health care to South Australians, care which people in this state expect but which has been made so much more difficult given the recent budget decisions of the federal government.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Point of order, Mr President. I have patiently listened while the honourable member has talked about the Riverland General Hospital, but he has gone back to talking about federal budget decisions. This debate is about the Supply Bill, which is about the state government's provision of money towards the funding of the Public Service to perform the deeds of the state government, not the federal government.

The PRESIDENT: I thought that what Mr Kandelaars was getting at was some of the decisions in the state are due because of the outcome of the federal budget. I think that is what he is getting at. There is no debate on this.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: That is exactly my argument, Mr President.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Point of order, again. It is about the state budget, and to be continually referring to the federal budget, as the Hon. Mr Kandelaars did earlier in his piece before he referred to the Riverland General Hospital, is in my view out of order, sir, and I would ask you to ask him to concentrate on the state Supply Bill.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Kandelaars, if you are referring to the federal budget, put it in the context of how it relates to the state budget.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I will certainly do that, sir.

The PRESIDENT: Hon. Mr Wade.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Point of order, sir. I suggest that your guidance to the Hon. Mr Kandelaars might be more specific because the federal budget which the Hon. Mr Kandelaars is referring to relates to the 2014-15 financial year. This Supply Bill relates to the completion of the 2013-14 financial year. If the member wants to explain to us how, retrospectively, a future federal budget is affecting expenditure that has already been approved by this parliament, that would be educational.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wade, we went through a week of Address in Reply speeches where the speeches were very often personal and not in relation to the Governor's speech. We tolerated that. Naturally, this is about the state budget, but if the Hon. Mr Kandelaars wants to put it in the context of decisions made because of the outcome of the federal budget I think that is up to Mr Kandelaars. Mr Kandelaars.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Mr President, I will continue. As the federal budget has immediately wiped out $600 million from the South Australian budget over the next four years, it is very relevant—

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Point of order. The honourable member has taken no indication from you of your guidance, and I think he should. He has gone directly back to his text and not taken any indication of what you are hoping he may well do, and I ask you to ask him to do so.

The PRESIDENT: This is to all members, and I will take notice of it. The Supply Bill is all about the supply of money to keep the government going, and I think all members should relate their speeches to that. The Hon. Mr Kandelaars, if you want to continue. I will say this, though: I think we are getting a little bit precious at this particular time. When we went through those—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: No, I am speaking. When we had to go through the Address in Reply speeches and the abuse of parliamentary privilege used to tarnish the reputation of quite a number of people, I think you are getting a little bit precious, the Hon. Mr Wade. The Hon. Mr Kandelaars.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Taking note of your position, Mr President, I must say that there are enormous pressures coming forward in relation to the proposed federal budget. If we look at some of the impacts potentially coming forward we should have a look at some of the programs that are currently undertaken in terms of preventive health care. In terms of that, I am a type 2 diabetic. As a result of some of the decisions being made, the ability of our state system to ensure that primary health care does not overflow to our emergency departments is closely linked to some of the decisions that are currently being made.

Some of the potential problems that result from people not seeking appropriate preventive medical care can be quite devastating. In terms of diabetes, for instance, there is the issue of blindness, kidney disease, circulatory problems and neuropathy, among other things. Decisions made that will force people into our emergency departments or, even worse, hospitalisation because they failed to attend to primary health needs early are going to have a significant impact on our public health system.

I think that is a critical issue for the people in this state. It is an issue that will come forward very quickly as a result of some of the decisions that have been made through the federal budget. We do have a very strong public health system here in South Australia and there are enormous strains that are likely to impact on that.

In terms of other areas I will cover, in last year's 2013-14 budget which concludes in July, there was funding of $3.1 billion for education. The state expects to spend an extra $1.9 billion on education and childhood development over the next four years—that is to 2017-18. The state government now spends more than $1 billion extra per annum on schools compared to the previous Liberal government. Per student funding is now $14,600, nearly double that under the previous Liberal government, which spent $7,600 per student.

The 2013-14 budget supported the state government's strategic priority of every chance for every child through increased funding for child protection, support for families, and the relocation of some preschools to the same location as primary schools. In March, the South Australian electorate voted to continue the modernisation of the state's education system. They voted for the government's electoral commitments to invest $310 million on schools and preschools across the state, upskill teachers and principals, build a new CBD high school and expand Adelaide High School so that more inner suburban students can study in the city, and provide additional support to students by expanding counselling services to every single primary school. The intent is to transform three more of the high schools into specialist schools, providing opportunities for students to excel in their area of interest. We also plan to expand services in our children's centres.

Obviously, one of the great issues we have is that the state government also signed up to the Gonski Better Schools reform package. That package is seriously under threat and that will have long-term consequences for every South Australian student. South Australian students stand to lose, thanks to Tony Abbott and Christopher Pyne—

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Point of order. I think the honourable member knows that when you are referring to colleagues in another parliament of the commonwealth they should be referred to by their proper title, either by their position or their seat or by 'the Honourable'.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I have been here long enough to know it and so should you.

The PRESIDENT: No debate; the Hon. Mr Dawkins had the line. I think that all members, when referring to any person of note, should treat them with respect and the title that they have.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: As I said, these planned cuts through the federal government do have an impact on our financial position this year. These plans are impacting on people's confidence to even access services.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Point of order, Mr President. On a point of relevance, standing order 186. It is not relevant to the Supply Bill 2014 what a future federal budget might do to the state finances. The Address in Reply is a broad reflection on the state of affairs of the state in the context of the Governor's speech. The Supply Bill is, indeed, a broad reflection on state affairs in relation to the 2013-14 financial year. I ask you to rule that the member is out of order under standing order 186.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Point of order. The Hon. Gerry Kandelaars did make a direct link with the proposed cuts and the impact—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: There is a member on their feet with a point of order.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The honourable member did make a direct link between the potential proposed cuts by the federal government and the Supply Bill here before us. He did make a direct link between that and also consumer confidence to access vital services, which go directly to impacting on supply.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Kandelaars, if you could take the point that it is important that your speech is relevant. Do you want to continue? I will just make a comment here: I think all members should look at the difference between the Supply Bill and the Appropriation Bill because there is—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I have been in this chamber and I have heard some amazing speeches from this side with regard to the Supply Bill, but I think it is important that we do distinguish between the Supply Bill, which is the appropriation of money to keep employees going, and the budget. The Hon. Mr Kandelaars, do you want to continue?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: All right, I will take your point. One thing that we need to recognise is that funding of both our health and education systems is not a bonus. A well-funded education system is a right for all our children. Now that is under threat, again, like health and education. I would like to commend all our principals, teachers and support staff who dedicate their life to nurturing and educating our children, who are the future of our community. These people deserve our support.

During the recent state election campaign the Premier, Jay Weatherill, committed to stand up to the federal government and fight for a better deal in South Australia.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Can you sit down, Hon. Mr Kandelaars? Steve, please, the Hon. Mr Wade, will you please stay over there? You look like you are almost coming to fisticuffs there. I don't want to have to get tough on you, Hon. Mr Wade.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Point of order. You should refer to members by their titles, not by their first names.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: As I said, the state government is committed to ensuring South Australia's health and education system leads the nation. We have been working hard to achieve this and investing substantial money to do it; there has been substantial investment in all major hospitals. For instance, as I said, take Berri or Mount Gambier, take Port Lincoln and Whyalla, there have been substantial investments in the regional hospital system in this state.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Well, when we look at—

The PRESIDENT: Don't react. The honourable member will not react to interjections.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: —those opposite, who privatised the Modbury Hospital, who sold that off—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: What a disgrace. They come in here and complain about the investment we have made in public health. Take the new Royal Adelaide Hospital: it will be a state of the art facility. It is being built just down the road. Maybe those opposite have not seen all the cranes, have not seen the impact it has had on Adelaide—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: I know my granddaughter is going to be 35 before it's paid off.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I just cannot believe those opposite. They sold off one of our major health facilities—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Maher, the member is talking.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: —and they are here complaining about this state government investing in the health and wellbeing of people in this state. That is typical of those opposite. When are they going to stand up and fight for the interests of South Australia? When are they going to do that? Even their interstate colleagues have got the gumption to actually stand up and fight on behalf of—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Not here, though.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: We are waiting for it; we do not see it. The cuts that are possible—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: We have been increasing services to both regional and metropolitan areas. Those services are significantly under threat and it is about time that those opposite started to stand up on behalf of the community of South Australia, stand up to those in other places who want to rip apart our social structure. It is about time they did stand up.

I will conclude by commending this bill to the council. It will ensure ongoing operations while the Appropriation Bill 2014-15 is dealt with. And I will note their comments when they get up and speak to the Supply Bill.

The PRESIDENT: I think I have been very tolerant on the debate with regard to supply, but I think all members should realise—as I have stated before—that there is a difference between the Supply Bill and the Appropriation Bill. I think it is important that that is reflected appropriately by all members when they are making their speeches.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. S.G. Wade.

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