Health Review

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (16:55): Again my question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister detail why he believes a 3½-week consultation period is sufficient for a report into the state's entire health system, considering a report into SA Pathology alone was given seven weeks for public consultation?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (16:56): Because this is a culmination of a process that began in the middle of last year. It is a culmination of a process that is about nine months long, during which we had a health summit where over 600 people came, including the shadow minister for health, and it was very good to see him there taking an interest. There were over 600 participants at the health summit.

We have had thousands of people through the Transforming Health process provide feedback, and the summit unanimously endorsed the principles of care and the fact that there was an urgent need for change in our health system. We could not just keep going along as we were; change had to happen. So, this is the culmination of a process that has been going on for nine months, and we do need to get on with it.