Mallala Community Hospital

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Ageing. Has the minister been briefed on the closure of the Mallala hospital and aged care service, a community controlled facility that closed on 1 April, requiring 31 aged care residents to find alternative housing? Can the minister confirm the level of departmental oversight that occurs on community controlled aged-care services, particularly their financial control and their financial viability?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:06): It is unfortunate but we cannot step in every time that one of these country facilities closes. We do try to work with agencies but this will not be the first time nor will it be the last that one of these community controlled hospitals/aged-care facilities are unable to continue to operate. We, of course, make sure in terms of country health that we have facilities as best we can to assist in the relocation of those residents to alternative accommodation.

But as I said, if the Liberal Party in South Australia is committing to a policy of every country facility that closes down that they are going to step in and take it over, I am sure the Hon. Rob Lucas in another place will be very interested as he frames up your campaign costings for the 2018 election campaign. But don't give us crocodile tears about these country facilities when they close when, if you were in government, you would be doing exactly the same thing.