House of Assembly: Thursday, July 02, 2015

Contents

Enterprise Patient Administration System

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): Can the Treasurer confirm that SA Health is running EPAS on contingencies in the 2015-16 budget?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:26): Yes, I can confirm that Department of Treasury and Finance and Health are working together collaboratively to make sure that the rolling out of EPAS is done in line with the Auditor-General's recommendations. I can say that we do have an excellent working relationship with Health.

The great thing about being in a cabinet as collegiate as ours is that we work together; we talk to each other. When the Attorney says to me, 'This is the advice I have received from the Chief Justice,' I accept that advice as being accurate. When the police minister says to me, 'This is the advice I have from the police commissioner,' I accept that advice as being accurate. Same as the health minister—when he says to me—

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr GARDNER: The question was very specific: is the EPAS line running out of contingencies—98.

The SPEAKER: I think the Treasurer is saying, if I am not mistaken, that he accepts, without demur, the advice of the Minister for Health.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I do, sir, because—

The SPEAKER: Do I read the Treasurer correctly?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We have an excellent working relationship with the Minister for Health. What we don't do—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What we don't do, Mr Speaker, is, for example, give information that may not be accurate to each other, or attempt to set each other up.

Mr PISONI: Point of order: the question was about contingencies, and the minister was clearly—

The SPEAKER: I think the member for Unley is being over-sensitive, and if he pursues that point of order, he will be joining the member for Newland. Leader.

Mr MARSHALL: Was that the answer?

The SPEAKER: Yes.