SA Pathology

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:51): My question is for the Minister for Health. Is the minister aware that a large proportion of SA Pathology's workload and revenue is generated from the regions and that the Ernst & Young review does not fully recognise this fact and therefore undervalues the impact on SA Pathology's ongoing viability if regional services are privatised as recommended?

The SPEAKER: A very debating question, but I will allow it.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:51): I will resist because the member for Stuart actually does raise a good point, but I do point out that the Ernst & Young report does not advocate necessarily privatising or opening it up to contestability. It says that it's—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: No, it's not. It says it is something that should be investigated and we are investigating it at the moment and I will come back to the house with what we propose to do.

The SPEAKER: You're still here. The deputy leader.

Ms CHAPMAN: By a gossamer thread.

The SPEAKER: Yes.