Modbury Hospital

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Health. Given that the minister said last week that the decision to abandon the proposal for an eye hospital at the Modbury Hospital is based on advice from the College of Ophthalmologists, why wasn't the college consulted when the original decision was made?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:43): Well, the college was free to be a part of the process, but it came to see me after making the announcement and it had strong reservations (as I think, from recollection, did the Royal Society for the Blind) about doing the high-end eye surgery at Modbury Hospital. So, we are currently working with ophthalmologists about an alternative proposal, but I hope to have more to say about that shortly.