Question Time

TAXI VOUCHERS

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:08): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Why has the government withdrawn taxi voucher funding for renal dialysis patients who cannot afford to pay for the necessary three taxi trips to dialysis centres each week and have no other transport available? My office has been contacted by dialysis patients who have been advised that the government is withdrawing taxi voucher funding from 1 August. These people have told me that they will die without the dialysis.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure) (14:08): Even as Acting Minister for Health, I know enough to check any story that comes from the member for Morphett, because, of course, he has form. In fact, I have been given some advice on this and I am sure we will be able to give him more. But, do remember the approach of the member for Morphett, because he told the member for Light once—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: He said he doesn't care whether he gets them wrong, he will get one right one day.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: That's what he said, and he has form, and he uses the vulnerable—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister, point of order.

Mr Pengilly: Relevance.

Mr WILLIAMS: Absolutely it is. It's standing order 98, and it's about relevance.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, so your point of order is relevance, I presume?

Mr WILLIAMS: That's right, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. I would draw the minister back to the point of the question.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I do point out that there isn't actually a standing order that goes to relevance, but then again neither does the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Can I say, if they want good behaviour, maybe they shouldn't interject quite as much.

I have got to say that the statements today from the member from Morphett follow from his statements in this house yesterday about a poor boy waiting 24 hours to be admitted to hospital. We checked that story and, of course, it was one hour and 20 minutes. I regret that anyone waits one hour and 20 minutes, but to say 24 hours is just absolutely disgraceful. On this occasion, what I am told, and I will get further information—

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Morphett!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Yes, you are a disgrace, I agree. On this occasion I am advised—

Mr VENNING: Madam Speaker, point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr VENNING: Standing order 125, offensive words against a member.

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert, I appreciate what you are saying, but if we start singling out 'disgrace', I must have heard that word a thousand times in this place. Minister for Transport.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I just make the point that if he doesn't want people to say things about him he shouldn't interject in a disorderly fashion, and any interjections, of course, are out of order.

I was briefly advised before I came into this place about one of the matters the shadow minister has raised. It was a question of a woman who, as I understand it, was offered taxi vouchers three times a fortnight and had agreed to drive herself three times a fortnight. Those taxi rides, as I understand it, amount to some $600 in taxi fares because she comes from far out.

I am told that, in fact, it was the result of an agreement, but if the woman doesn't want to do that in the future there are many options available, and she simply needs to have discussions with the relevant health authorities, and I am happy to provide further information. I point out that I am the acting minister, but I will stress that the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Are you still here? If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a question for me, I would relish taking it. Please, just wait your turn. What I will say is that—

Mr Williams: You covered yourself in glory yesterday, Patrick.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I covered you in something. Are you done now? I look forward to your question. This is a serious matter, and I wish the opposition would stop their interjections.

An honourable member: A bit rich.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: And it's funny. Apparently, it's funny. Anything from Whetstone today? No, I didn't think so.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: No matter what he says he won't tell the truth about it later.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I did? I point out we take our health services extremely seriously. I am told the information on this matter, just as yesterday, is not as suggested by the opposition member—and hasn't he got form? Can I say this: we do take very seriously the services offered for dialysis patients, as we do with all patients, and the most vulnerable in our community are not assisted by being used by the member for Morphett for political purposes.