Palliative Care

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:41): Supplementary, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is called to order. Supplementary, member for Mount Gambier.

Mr BELL: This is to the Minister for Health as well. Is there an increase in the overall health budget, or a decrease?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:41): Let's be quite clear about this. The federal government had national partnership agreements that were funding the palliative care service at Mount Gambier. I have a lot of time for the member for Mount Gambier; he is a strong advocate for his community, but I have to say that I am a little bit tired of hearing this nonsense about cuts to palliative care in Mount Gambier when the member for Mount Gambier knows full well that the only reason for this cut is that the federal government cut the national partnership agreements. That is the only reason.

The only money that has been taken out of palliative care in Mount Gambier is because of cuts by the federal government. If the member for Mount Gambier was serious about this issue he would be taking it up with the federal Liberal member for Mount Gambier and with the federal government, not with me.

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is warned. Member for Colton.