Leigh Creek

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:10): My question is for the Minister for Health. Given that it's three months today since Alinta announced its planned closure of the Leigh Creek coalmine and it's very likely that that coalmine will be closed within another three months, will the minister advise the house what the government's intentions are for health service delivery in Leigh Creek and the surrounding district?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:10): The final decision hasn't been made, but my strong expectation is that we'll continue providing the hospital there, certainly a health service, in any case, because of where it's situated on the highway and because it provides a service to the surrounding districts. We'll confirm it, but my very strong expectation is we will continue to have the hospital there.