Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-03-03 Daily Xml

Contents

Coronavirus

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:42): Supplementary arising from the answer: will the minister rule out privatisation of SA Pathology until the full impact of the coronavirus is known?

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I am not quite sure that that is arising from the original answer. I will give the minister the opportunity to respond. Otherwise, we will move on. Minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:43): The honourable member loves to use the word 'privatisation'. I would like to know where was she when Labor was privatising services left, right and centre when they were in government. In relation to—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Was she?

The PRESIDENT: Order! Government members, Treasurer, let the minister answer.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: For example, in relation to radiology, not a dissimilar service to pathology, Labor outsourced widely. Radiology services at Modbury and Noarlunga are delivered through external providers. There are 14 country hospitals where radiology services were delivered during Labor's term through external providers. They can bleat about privatisation, but whenever they do that they highlight their own hypocrisy. It is 'do what we say, not what we did'.