STRATHMONT CENTRE

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (15:02): My question is to the Premier again. Why did the government, for three years, serve hot food described as 'inedible' by the Public Advocate, John Brayley, to residents at the Strathmont care facility that had been cooked at Highgate and then transported in a van 15 kilometres to Strathmont?

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Police.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): I thank the member for Morialta for this question. This was brought to our attention by the Public Advocate. As soon as I became aware of it, when I was minister, I went out there. I tried the food myself and processes were put in place to improve the standard of the food.

Obviously, when the numbers of the people at Strathmont got to such a low level, other arrangements were put in place. It was not economical to run the kitchen out there and they were taking the food from Highgate to Strathmont. I think it was very good of the Public Advocate to acknowledge that there was an immediate improvement in the food being supplied at Strathmont.