EDWARDS, DR KARLEEN

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister advise if the resignation of Dr Karleen Edwards, former CEO of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, is a result of the budget blow-out, and why is the minister not taking responsibility?

The Hon. J.D. Hill: I just missed what you said then. Can you start again?

Dr McFETRIDGE: Can the minister advise if the resignation of Dr Karleen Edwards, former CEO of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, is a result of the budget blow-out, and why is the minister not taking responsibility? The Minister for Health stated in this house on 24 October 2007:

There are clear and strong community expectations that the Minister for Health be accountable for the public health system, as I have said many times. The buck stops with me.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:00): The former English teacher in me really wishes to analyse the text for the subtext that is in it. The shadow minister makes a number of points which are only vaguely connected with each other and then sort of leads to a particular conclusion. Karleen Edwards has announced her resignation—fact No. 1—there is a budget overrun and then I said I am responsible; and then tries to draw a link through that that somehow or other she is resigning because she is taking the bullet for the budget being overrun and I am avoiding my responsibilities. I take it that is what he is implying. They are facts but they are not related to each other. Karleen Edwards has—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Karleen Edwards, who is the CE of Central Northern, has announced that she is taking another job leading another health service in Victoria. I gather that is a promotion for her and that is something she has sought. She has not been sacked. She has voluntarily made that decision, so it is not related to anything other than her own professional interest. That is fact No. 1. Fact No. 2, the issue in relation to who is responsible: will I take responsibility? I have already answered that. I have said, under the Westminster system, I take responsibility. I said that, when I introduced legislation to make that plain, you objected to it.