HEALTH BUDGET

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:13): My question is again to the Minister for Health and Ageing. In light of his previous answer, can the minister outline what cuts to the health services he will have to make to accommodate the $31 million clawback that is imminent and, also, whether or not the $11 million from the previous financial year will just increase that loss?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (15:13): I will have a brief word with the Treasurer. It is really an effect on the South Australian budget. How that affects the health budget is something that will have to be determined by the MYBR (Mid-Year Budget Review) process, but there is definitely a reduction of the amount of money coming into the state.

As I understand it, putting the federal government's position in relation to this so that we understand what the argument is about, they gave us funds on the basis of anticipated growth, the growth was not as great as had been anticipated and, therefore, under the arrangements in place, they had a right to claw back funding which was for that bit that did not occur. The states dispute, I think, whether or not that calculation is correct, and that is what we have really asked to be reviewed.