House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Ministerial Statement Hospital Waiting Times Hospital Waiting Times The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly Playford Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister for the Arts Minister for Health Industries The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:30): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement. Leave granted. The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: On Tuesday 23 September, the opposition health spokesman in the other place, Stephen Wade, claimed that a woman had died in 'disturbing circumstances' at Noarlunga Hospital. In question time the next day the Leader of the Opposition followed this up by asking me questions about the woman's death. We now know that owing to Mr Wade's actions the Coroner's office reopened the woman's case file. On Thursday 24 September, the Coroner's office advised the woman's son that she could not be buried as had been planned the next day. Understandably, this caused great distress for the family. Fortunately, the Coroner's office was later able to advise that the burial could proceed at the planned time. The office also said that, 'The report from the Noarlunga Hospital said nothing about overcrowding at the Flinders Medical Centre being a factor in this death.' Also on Thursday 24 September, the woman's son rang Mr Wade's office to advise him that he was incorrect. Instead of getting an immediate apology, later that day police arrived at the home of the woman's son. Belatedly, Mr Wade apologised to the woman's family on Friday 25 September. I understand that the opposition leader has not personally apologised even though he also tried to use this woman's death to score a few cheap political points in question time. I have spoken to the woman's family who were distressed that this matter was exploited politically, that their private details had been used, and that police were sent to their home while they were grieving. The use of a family's grief and the tragic death of an individual to leverage political advantage is disgusting to me. In accordance with the family's wishes, I wrote to Mr Wade to ask him to reveal the source of his misleading claims. Mr Wade has refused to do this. I have sought advice on this matter from the Crown Solicitor and his office has recommended a course of action, which I have followed.