NEILSON, MR T.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Health. Has the health department ever received a report from Mr Tom Neilson in response to an allegation that he requisitioned a cheque for $126,701 dated 7 April 2003 to pay medical specialists at the Mount Gambier Hospital without authority to do so; and, if so, what action has been taken?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (14:48): I am not sure why in 2008, after five years, the leader would suddenly decide that this matter requires a question in question time. I was not the minister responsible in 2003, but I am happy to find out for the leader the details of his allegations. I am aware that there were issues at the Mount Gambier Hospital going back a number of years which were created by a former minister for health (Hon. Dean Brown) and which were sorted out by my colleague the member for Little Para when she was the health minister.

The hospital now has a stable workforce, and relations between the hospital and the local doctors, I think, are now better than they have been for years. We now have a very good manager in the hospital in David Walshaw, and it is going from strength to strength. Certainly, under our health care plan, it will be one of the general hospitals which will see an increase in services, and I guess that is why the Mount Gambier council supports our plan. But in relation to the allegations, it is a typical ploy by the opposition to name and slur public servants and, by innuendo, suggest that something has been done that is wrong. I will get a full report.