Today’s release of both Liberal and Labor plans for the Royal Adelaide Hospital site highlights the stark difference in approach between how a Marshall Liberal Government and a Weatherill Labor Government would deal with South Australia’s jobs and budget crisis.
“A Marshall Liberal Government will adopt a prudent, financially responsible approach to the RAH site that will make clever use of the site’s existing world class infrastructure, deliver a return to taxpayers and develop ongoing private sector economic opportunities in the delivery of health services,” said Shadow Minister for Health Rob Lucas.
“Weatherill Labor will demolish hundreds of millions of dollars of existing public investment before adding another $85 million dollars to our $14 billion debt to build a school that would be better located near Adelaide High School.
“The Marshall Liberal Plan will enable Adelaide to capitalise on the growing medical tourism market.
“Medical tourism has the potential to inject millions of dollars into the South Australian economy through medical costs, accommodation, retail and services as the burgeoning Asian middle class seeks premium health care services abroad.
“The Marshall Liberals’ plan will improve the State’s finances, generate private sector investment and preserve a significant slice of Adelaide’s heritage whilst Weatherill’s plan bulldozes our history and adds to crippling debt he has created.
“On past performance it’s safe to say the current pledge of $85 million will just be the beginning of the taxpayer’s bill to deliver the Weatherill Labor Government’s plan.
“Labor’s expensive plans are also out of step with the wishes of Adelaide High School community which has warmly welcomed our proposal for a second Adelaide High School campus to be built on West Terrace.
“I’m also highly skeptical of Labor’s ability to deliver this latest school’s promise.
“During the last state election Labor followed the State Liberals’ lead promising an expansion of Adelaide High School by 2013. It failed to deliver then and can’t be trusted to deliver now.”