March election

[aneale]

your an idiot. You do realise that more people voted for the libs then for labor dont you? Most people dont want a bloody new hospital, what a ****ing waste. Thats one of the reasons why labor lost the Adelaide seat. And yes Im a politician

Yes, because that is what the whole election was about, a hospital. The electorate voted solely on one issue. I can tell you're a politician, you're too stupid to know the difference between 'your' and 'you're', frightening thing is they let you vote. Good to see our education standards are ever improving, maybe we should have got the teachers pay conditions as an electoral issue

 

[PortBrillance]

Well I didnt vote coz Im not 18, so you fail

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Jay Weatherill will challenge Foley for Deputy Premier.

and

Michael Atkinson is heading for the back benches.

 

[Portsmeff]

your an idiot. You do realise that more people voted for the libs then for labor dont you? Most people dont want a bloody new hospital, what a ****ing waste. Thats one of the reasons why labor lost the Adelaide seat. And yes Im a politician

sorry to sound rude, but when you have a hospital thats now old and rundown, it simply defies all logic and intelligence to actually oppose a new hospital.
Im stunned that there are people out there that want to save the RAH because of its sentimental value. Its far easier to build one from scratch, and its just down the road. Mike Rann didnt think up the idea himself, there are govt departments that employ experts in planning, costings, logistics, engineering (who have studied for years and years in their line of work) who actually advise the govt minister at the time, on what projects (through cost-benefit analysis) should be undertaken. The govt then asseses how much funding should be given to all the competing govt departments, which is when politics come into issue
Naturally in politics, when the oppostion party detect some rumblings against projects, they naturally side with this opposition, in the hope that this public opposition is great enough to get them in power. I would say that there are many people in the Liberal party that deep down want the new hospital, but politics dictate that you have to run against the current govt's policies

 

[tribey]

Most people dont want a bloody new hospital, what a ****ing waste.

Most people who don't want a new hospital have no experience with the RAH and have no idea just how much of a dilapidated shithole it actually is.

They also don't consider the logistical ramifications of upgrading something as massive as a hospital while pretending it's 'business as usual' - outlying wards full of patients to other parts of the hospital or surrounding hospitals, maintaining outpatients services and surgery lists, the difficulty of cutting and reinstating utilities like water and power to certain sectors of the hospital reliably and safely, etc.

Yeah, it's all fun and games seeing that juicy carrot of a brand spanking new CBD footy stadium dangling within touching distance, but if you're faced with a 12-18 month blowout in waiting times for your elective surgery or you can't get a hospital bed for weeks because "whoops replacing crusty old asbestos-fellated pipes is a lot harder than we thought soz rofl" your perspective might change a little.

Ultimately, the Libs cliffnote plan of "umm we will just fix the current one and save ONE BILLION DORRARS!!!!111" was just too basic and fanciful.

 

[Power King]

You're not even 18 yet, so I don't blame you, but rather your age, for knowing nothing about the RAH.

In time you might learn, or perhaps in retrospect.

 

[PortBrillance]

I doubt it

 

[MrMeaner]

Atkinson moving to the backbench has to be the best news to come out of this election.

As for the calls of 'gerrymander', there is simply no evidence of its existence. There are some elections where parties get a swing in the wrong places. In this case, the largest swings were in the Western Suburbs. Those seats have been held by Labor for almost all living memory. The chance of any of them falling to the Libs at this election was minuscule. How can any electoral commission plan for that type of eventuality while maintaining preferential voting? The only answer would be by adopting a Hare Clark system.

The same thing happened to Labor in the Federal election in 1998. As long as single member electorates are maintained, it will continue to happen to all sides.

 

[MrMeaner]

Also, to those thinking that First Past the Post would have resulted in the Libs winning, I have just quickly tallied the seats on the basis of who was ahead on first preferences. The result was ALP 25; Libs 20; Ind 2.*

The ABC is predicting ALP 25; Libs 18; Ind 4. I think that they have called Bright too early for Labor. Postal votes should result in Fox losing. Thus, the result is likely to be 24; 19; 4. Thus, FPP would have favoured Labor even more than the present system.

*Edit: I was out by one (in the ALP's favour) in my original count.

 

[Quadzilla]

Most people who don't want a new hospital have no experience with the RAH and have no idea just how much of a dilapidated shithole it actually is.

They also don't consider the logistical ramifications of upgrading something as massive as a hospital while pretending it's 'business as usual' - outlying wards full of patients to other parts of the hospital or surrounding hospitals, maintaining outpatients services and surgery lists, the difficulty of cutting and reinstating utilities like water and power to certain sectors of the hospital reliably and safely, etc.

Yeah, it's all fun and games seeing that juicy carrot of a brand spanking new CBD footy stadium dangling within touching distance, but if you're faced with a 12-18 month blowout in waiting times for your elective surgery or you can't get a hospital bed for weeks because "whoops replacing crusty old asbestos-fellated pipes is a lot harder than we thought soz rofl" your perspective might change a little.

Ultimately, the Libs cliffnote plan of "umm we will just fix the current one and save ONE BILLION DORRARS!!!!111" was just too basic and fanciful.

The thing about Labor is that they think building a 'new' hospital with only a handful of extra beds will fix the current problem of elective surgery waiting lists etc-it wont. $ and fixing the whole current hospital system will and that was what Libs were on about but couldnt actually convince us all of that the bungle in the last few days of saying we wont actually save $1bill when for weeks they told us they could do that was a big win for Labor.

Labor nearly got tossed out coz of their arrogance and spin - issues hardly played a part, IMO. They stayed on coz the Libs stuffed up - they couldnt win te two other central/eastern suburb seats of Morialta and the one the recycled Fed Draper was in when the swings were 10-15% their way out there. Labor can thank Bignell and Picolla for increasing their margin in very marginal seats everyone expected to go to the Libs.

 

[MrMeaner]

To those who live in Port Adelaide: what was Max James's platform?

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Max so far has recived just on 2,000 votes approx 12% with 73% counted. See

http://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/election2010/results.php

then select PA from Chose District drop box.

 

[MrMeaner]

Sorry for the misunderstanding REH, what were Max's policies? Was he simply running on a 'pox on both their houses' platform?

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

No I misread what your wrore MM as I read this page first and then read the previous page before i posted a reply.

When Max announced his candidature I happened to be at dinner with ex PAFC board member Frank Hayter. He said that Max reckons Foley had ignored PA and that there wasn't enough development in the Port and that was the main reason he was running. I don't know if he announced any other policies or areas of concern.

 

[MrMeaner]

Thanks.

 

[morell]

Good riddance Mick Atkinson. Now we have to hope the new AG is someone who thinks its 2010 not 1910.

Gamers 4 Croyden FTW, well almost. Pretty pleased with our (I am a paid up member) results. I think all the candidates and people involved did a fantastic job to out poll Family First and the Democrats - both established political Parties - in the key seat of Croyden, especially considering the limited time and budget. It really was a grassroots/people first movement and it was great to see. Its the first time I have been really interested in South Australian politics.

Chris Prior also lasted until count 34 for the Legislative Council. Outlasting the;

Save RAH Party
Legalise Voluntary Euthanasia
Independent Climate Sceptics
SA Fishing & Lifestyle
F.R.E.E. Australia Party
One Nation
Save the Unborn
The Nationals
Motorsports Land Tax
Christians for Voluntary Euthanasia
Joseph Williams Indigenous
Parklands and Heritage
Less Tax
Commission Against Corruption
Independent SA Change
Social Environmental & Economic Justice
Change is Necessary
Water, Housing, Health Care
Water Environment Heritage
Law and Order
CARS
No Desal No Dams
MAGS 2010
Ultra Progressive

With a more favourable preference set up he could just about have snagged a seat.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

The thing about Labor is that they think building a 'new' hospital with only a handful of extra beds will fix the current problem of elective surgery waiting lists etc-it wont. $ and fixing the whole current hospital system will and that was what Libs were on about but couldnt actually convince us all of that the bungle in the last few days of saying we wont actually save $1bill when for weeks they told us they could do that was a big win for Labor.

The bolded section is simply wrong, but it probably reflects the larger community perception (fuelled by media headlines) of the focus on hospitals rather than health.

The shifting focus in health is in community-based primary and public health models of care designed to keep people out of hospitals, especially emergency departments. The challenge is to stem and reverse the rising tide of largely preventable chronic disease that results in choking the hospital system.

The new hospital is not intended to fix the problem of hospital waiting times, but to provide South Australia with a centrally-located, state of the art 21st century hospital.

 

[Quadzilla]

The bolded section is simply wrong, but it probably reflects the larger community perception (fuelled by media headlines) of the focus on hospitals rather than health.

The shifting focus in health is in community-based primary and public health models of care designed to keep people out of hospitals, especially emergency departments. The challenge is to stem and reverse the rising tide of largely preventable chronic disease that results in choking the hospital system.

The new hospital is not intended to fix the problem of hospital waiting times, but to provide South Australia with a centrally-located, state of the art 21st century hospital.

fair call ... but when i hear John Hill try to explain why new and not rebuild he gave that impression to me - so you're right - thats the perception. Otherwise agree with you.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I think the ALP conceded they haven't really 'sold' the concept of the new hospital that well. Much the same could be said of their entire pre-election campaign.

The whole 'L-Plate' approach worked on Latham because he was a corked cannon waiting to explode. Redmond used that folksy George Bush style (without the comic bumbling) to allay any such concerns.

As for promoting a whole of health system, that's probably beyond the capacity of the 15 second sound bite media.

 

[missionpossible]

well my first reaction was **** it.

my second reaction is they better ****ing keep the fight up on drugs because they will **** everything else up if left to their own devices.

third reaction thank **** they dont have the numbers in the upper house

fourth reaction - adelaide oval will not go ahead.

 

[tribey]

I don't know if he announced any other policies or areas of concern.

He was also after the abolition or lowering of a bunch o'taxes, payroll, land, etc etc.

 

[tribey]

Gamers 4 Croyden FTW, well almost.

I was huegly tempted to take the time to make sure he was high up and cnutspooge like Save the Unborn, Fundamentalism First and Save the RAH were absolute dregs, but shit man, shit!

Putting 6 numbers on a Keno form without bollocksing it up is hard enough - there's no way I could've attempted 1-74 on the bedspread they handed me without fretting all night that I'd informalled while s******ing a little too long at writing 69 next to Robert Brokenshire's name.

 

[Quadzilla]

I was huegly tempted to take the time to make sure he was high up and cnutspooge like Save the Unborn, Fundamentalism First and Save the RAH were absolute dregs, but shit man, shit!

Putting 6 numbers on a Keno form without bollocksing it up is hard enough - there's no way I could've attempted 1-74 on the bedspread they handed me without fretting all night that I'd informalled while s******ing a little too long at writing 69 next to Robert Brokenshire's name.

I filled out the big sheet - started at 1 and went forwards for the ones I wanted then at 75 and worked backwards for the nutjobs .. took me forever - was a queue after I finished in the booth

 

[Portia]

Senate/Legislative Council voting is pretty much what spreadsheets were invented for. Do your prefs the day before, print it out, then its just transcription

Anyone else think its funny that the `National' Party has basically given up on SA?

 

[Toots Hibbert]

The bolded section is simply wrong, but it probably reflects the larger community perception (fuelled by media headlines) of the focus on hospitals rather than health.

The shifting focus in health is in community-based primary and public health models of care designed to keep people out of hospitals, especially emergency departments. The challenge is to stem and reverse the rising tide of largely preventable chronic disease that results in choking the hospital system.

The new hospital is not intended to fix the problem of hospital waiting times, but to provide South Australia with a centrally-located, state of the art 21st century hospital.

I agree with your whole post but specifically on the bolded bit the planners researched the possibility of rebuilding on the current site but, while this would be possible to do, the level of disruption would have been enormous. For this to stretch out year after year would have been difficult to endure for staff and patients alike.

As Ford said, the new hospital is designed to be state of the art and built to accomodate a new style of health care. It is based on successful designs from Europe. The plans include future proofing it so that it doesn't start becoming outdated the day after completion.

Labor has made an absolute hash of selling it starting with the original name. That doesn't mean it is not good policy. What people need to realise is that while there may be genuine affection for the RAH from longserving staff there are others (read some medical and surgical Specialists)with vested interests in the current setup who fear they will be impacted by new ways of delivering health. People also need to realise that many staff who work there find the place an absolute dump and look forward to change.

Whenever I saw those posters about saving the RAH and saving $1Billion I had to laugh. Can you imagine completely renovating your house and doing it in dribs and drabs with the builder having to work around you while you still lived there? Imagine the cost compared to you moving out and giving the builder a chance to do it efficiently. It's ridiculous to think money could be saved renovating the RAH while it is still in use and the Liberal treasury spokesman admitted on Friday that they had been spinning their costings in the runup to the election.

The RAH currently operates for periods of time at greater than 100% capacity. There is no way SA could cope with parts of the hospital out of service for periods of time as it is by a long way the largest hospital we have. There's only one sensible option and that is build a new modern hospital on a new site.

Then you get all the nonsense about how the RAH is a teaching hospital and needs to be across the road from the university. That to me is rubbish as the new hospital will be five minutes up the road.

I think it's a good thing for governments to be tipped out of office and the current lot have been far from perfect but, in my opinion, as far as health is concerned, SA has dodged a bullet in the likely event that Rann gets returned to power. Hopefully in four years time the new hospital will be so far underway that it will not be an election issue.