HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:02): My question is for the Minister for Health and Ageing. Why did the minister use a figure of $60 million for the reconciliation figure in the SA Health accounts in today's ministerial statement when the Auditor-General's office told the Economic and Finance Committee the figure was $90 million when they got involved?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (15:02): The $60 million figure was the figure I recall that I most recently gave the house. It started off at a higher level and it has come down, so I think $60 million was the last figure that I informed the house of. If you recall, when the question was first put to—I think, the Treasurer in my absence—the allegation was that it was $200 million that was due to be reconciled. I think I came back and said—

The Hon. J.J. Snelling interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: A blowout. I came back and I indicated, I think, that it had been $90 million and it had got down to $60 million. I will check the details of this but, as I understand it, that was the last figure that I had given the house, and I am now telling you that it is down to below $3 million, and all of the issues associated with it. The important point is that reconciliation from the 18 legacy accounts into the new Oracle system is largely complete and there is less than $3 million to be finalised, and it is being finalised at the moment.