HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Has Treasury required a further 359 FTE in Health job cuts in either the 2014-15 or 2015-16 financial years? The minister told the estimates committee that 959 FTE job cuts for 2013-14 outlined in the budget hat been reduced to 600 because a particular funding agreement had been expanded for a further 18 months.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:53): I am not sure what the question was, but the information I provided to the estimates committee is still the case. The 900-odd reduction in FTEs that was published in the budget papers has been revised down because the state has successfully concluded negotiations with the commonwealth for an extension of a national partnership agreement for elective surgery and sub-acute care, which will now enable us to fund those positions for a further 18 months.