Ministerial Statement

PANTER, DR D.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:27): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday used a grievance debate to launch a personal attack on Dr David Panter, a senior public servant within the Department of Health. The deputy's tirade culminated in the description of Dr Panter as a 'peanut'.

This is not the first time that the member for Bragg has publicly attacked public servants. She has previously singled out Dr Panter for an ad hominem attack in a media release published on 16 March. Unfortunately, attacking public servants appears to be an acceptable practice on the other side of this house. Last year, on 1 September, the member for Unley named and criticised an individual employee of the health department involved in the implementation of our Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle program known as OPAL.

As members opposite should know, public servants are not in a position to defend themselves against political attack. A person simply doing his or her job should not be subjected to vindictive attacks to which they cannot respond. Members opposite seem to be confused as to how government works. Public servants offer advice and ministers and cabinet are responsible for decisions.

Last year this government passed legislation ensuring that the operation of our public hospitals lay within the Department of Health and, consequently, the Minister for Health rather than individual boards. At the time, I told the house that in Health the buck now stopped with me. I was, of course, criticised for that by the member for Bragg. I stand by my statement and I find the member's claim yesterday, that I do not take responsibility for government policy, offensive and ridiculous. For the record, the member's claim yesterday that there was an instruction by Dr Panter's office not to allow members of the public to attend a certain meeting (organised by Dr Katsaros) is false. It is as false as the deputy's accusation about a renal patient missing out on a kidney when the operation had been completely successful.

Dr David Panter is a highly regarded public servant. Before coming to Australia he was appointed A chief executive of the UK National Health Service and was elected as Deputy Chair of the NHS Confederation, the body representing National Health Service Employers. Since coming to Australia in October 2004, Dr Panter has been appointed Associate Professor of Psychology at Adelaide University, and was elected national President of Australian Health Care and Hospital Association in 2007, a position that he still holds. Dr Panter is a highly regarded public servant, both in Australia and internationally. He is a man with whom I have worked closely and I hold him in very high regard. We are very lucky to have him working in our state. I condemn completely the irresponsible and reckless behaviour of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in attacking him.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I have no idea what you are saying, Vickie, but you are scum.