Ministerial Statement

LOWER EYRE HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

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) (17:33): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: As part of the 2012-13 federal budget, the commonwealth government announced $600,000 for the Tumby Bay Health Service redevelopment. This was on the basis of a bid made by the District Council of Tumby Bay under the Health and Hospital Fund 2011 Regional Priority Round (Round 4) on behalf of the Lower Eyre Health Advisory Council (LEHAC). The LEHAC was established as an incorporated health advisory council pursuant to section 15 of the South Australian Health Care Act 2008. The LEHAC has several key responsibilities, including to advise the South Australian Minister for Health and Ageing on health service needs, priorities and issues within its local area. As part of its constitution, the LEHAC holds assets, including the titles for the land.

The LEHAC, however, in accordance with the act, must seek approval from the South Australian Minister for Health and Ageing in relation to funding or carrying out any construction with regard to these assets or to enter into any arrangement with a government authority or other entity. The LEHAC failed to comply with these requirements in line with their obligations, which contributed to the delay. While the project bid for the Tumby Bay Health Service was made by the District Council of Tumby Bay, I support the project going ahead and I am writing to the district council and to the Lower Eyre Health Advisory Council to provide my authorisation in line with the requirements under the act.

Discussions have been had with the commonwealth, the Health Advisory Council and the district council and SA Health about the most straightforward approach in progressing this project, and I am advised that the commonwealth is to directly contact the district council. SA Health will separately negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Health Advisory Council and the district council to jointly manage the works. SA Health will work closely with the commonwealth to expedite this process, and to enable works at Tumby Bay to commence as soon as possible, now that the requirements under the act have been fulfilled.