Question Time

Health Review

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Minister for Health. How does the minister respond to statements made by the former head of the Noarlunga emergency department that the proposal to downgrade Noarlunga and transfer patients to Flinders may well cost lives?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:08): I have confidence in the advice I get from the clinicians who work in our emergency departments at the moment. I am aware that the former head of the ED at Noarlunga has written a letter, and I think it is appropriate that I quote from a letter that has been written by a clinician to the Leader of the Opposition. The letter is from Dr Philip Tideman, who is a very senior clinician in the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and he writes—

Mr Tarzia: Did you write it?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: He writes—

The SPEAKER: Minister! The member for Hartley will not interject to the minister, 'Did you write it?' and is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Dr Tideman writes:

Dear Steven

Please do all of us a service and start to apply some intellectual rigour to opposition policy. Please do not insult the intelligence of hard working clinicians and other health workers and the public with rote opposition to everything the Government puts forward.

I don't think anyone could say I was a traditional Labour supporter, in fact the opposite is probably true, and I certainly do not agree with everything the Government does or proposes. However as a senior clinician I know we must make changes to ensure the sustainability and continued improvement in the quality of services that my colleagues and I—

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Heysen.

Ms REDMOND: On the relevance of this statement by the minister to the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition.

The SPEAKER: Yes; entirely germane, because of course the question is the criticism of government policy by a former clinician, and the minister is supplying information from a current clinician.

Ms REDMOND: But, sir, the question was: how does the minister respond to that criticism about the changes?

The SPEAKER: He is responding with the views of other clinicians; entirely in order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Thank you, sir. I continue:

Rather than lazily resist any change in this intellectually bankrupt rote way please ensure that you and your colleagues spend time understanding the challenges that have to be addressed and put some effort into making some positive alternative policy proposals like those of us actually providing the services continually try to do—I am sure there are potential alternative additional strategies that could usefully contribute to better outcomes for SA people, I just don't see you or your colleagues making any effort to contributing in this way.

You and your party's—

this is Dr Tideman talking about the Leader of the Opposition and those on the opposition benches—

completely inadequate response to the Transforming Healthcare proposals as reflected in the email below—

he is referring to an email that he received from the Leader of the Opposition—

is an example of why the Liberal Party in SA is so embarrassingly ineffectual in day to day public debate and at the polls despite having been in opposition for 13 years.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister, are you quoting, or are these your words?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am quoting, sir.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I am quoting. These are not my words, sir; these are the words of Dr Philip Tideman, a very senior clinician in the Southern Area Local Health Network—a very well-known cardiologist and respected right across this state. Dr Tideman continues:

Please step up and take responsibility for lifting the performance of the Opposition to acceptable levels or all resign and get Liberal politicians into Parliament who can actually do the job rather than waste our time and public money (yes the tax payers fund your salary) on useless political stunts.

Mr Speaker, I cannot put it any better.