Ex-premier Mike Rann on new RAH opening: Leaders need to stand firm in order ‘‘to get things done’’

FORMER premier Mike Rann won’t be attending the opening of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, but he says it would never have been built if he had listened to the project’s opponents.

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FORMER premier Mike Rann has taken a swipe at critics of the decision to build the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, just days before it opens to the public.

Mr Rann, who was premier from 2002 until ousted by Jay Weatherill in 2011, said he remembered “the very active Save the RAH Action Group led by Jim Katsaros’’ which opposed the move from the RAH’s current site.

“The Save the RAH group generated a lot of attention by forming a political party and contesting the 2010 election in both houses,’’ he said.

“They received less than 1 per cent of the vote in the Leg Co and less in the House of Assembly. But they had every right to have their say.’’

Former premier Mike Rann and ex-treasurer Kevin Foley hover over a model of the new RAH.

Mr Rann was invited to next week’s official opening of the new $2.3 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital, which was commissioned under his government, but he will not be attending.

He defended the project, which is being delivered both late and over-budget, calling it a “transformational project’’.

“I am sure that patients will prefer the single rooms each with their own ensuite as well as all the new facilities and technology,’’ he said.

Mr Rann said it was important political leaders learned the difference between strong community opposition and vocal, but small, pressure groups.

He said as well as the new RAH, which was originally called the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital, the Adelaide Oval and the tram extension had provoked the biggest complaints during his time in office. The now London-based Mr Rann said it was important for governments to push through the naysayers “otherwise nothing ever gets done’’.

South Australia’s flagship medical treatment facility officially opens this week, following a decision taken by the Rann government.

“Governments are elected to make decisions,’’ he said.

“It is always important to distinguish between strong community opposition to an initiative and noise by a few sounding like the many.

“It’s important to listen to the people but it’s also important to remember they speak in many different voices with many different opinions.’’

Mr Rann also said he had “received a huge number of letters opposing the tram extensions’’.

The Labor government announced the initial tram extension from Victoria Square to North Tce before the 2006 election. It has since been further extended to the Entertainment Centre and work has now started to take it to the Festival Centre and along North Tce to the old Royal Adelaide site.

Mr Rann also referenced opposition to the Adelaide Oval redevelopment. Mr Rann was also an early opponent of spending money on a stadium in the city, his government’s initial plan was to spend $100 million sprucing up AAMI Stadium at West Lakes.

The former premier said he had not visited the new RAH as yet and he had also not been on the duplicated Southern Expressway, another project completed after he left the premier’s office.”

“I remember the Libs proclaiming that their “reversible one way” freeway was a world first,’’ he said. “That’s because it was such a dopey idea.’’