HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Health. What is the current quantum of double-paid accounts made by the health department for financial year 2010-11? How much has been resolved and how much of that money will never be recovered? On 23 November 2011, the minister advised the house that $7.1 million had been paid in double payments, which had still not been resolved within the health department's finances at that time.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (14:49): I am happy to get a more detailed report. As I think I told the house on that occasion, there was a process we were going through to ensure that accounts that had been paid multiple times were rectified and I think I went through at the time the reasons for that occurring.

Sometimes accounts come in with slightly different titles from the company with whom we have been contracting. Mostly, these are companies with whom we have long-term arrangements, so the majority of those matters are fixed up in advance. In fact, in my own personal circumstances, I double paid my electricity bill just recently and I am sure they will sort it out in due course.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: That's another story altogether. These things do happen from time to time. We have a department budget of about $4.5 billion, so they are relatively small amounts of money. From memory, I think there is about $1 million worth of accounts which were to organisations which were not either intragovernment arrangements or companies with whom we have regular dealings, so there is nothing of great materiality, but I am happy to get a more detailed report for the member.