Ministerial Statement

Repatriation General Hospital

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Today I announced that expressions of interest are now open to determine the future use of the Repatriation General Hospital site. Following the relocation of current clinical services to other SA Health sites, the intention is that the Repat—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —site will be sold or leased, with the strict condition that it is used for health, aged-care, education or community-related purposes.

In May, the state government received over 30 registrations of interest in the Repat site from health, aged-care and community organisations. We have also engaged with the local community to hear their views about how they would like to see the site used. Today, we are calling for formal expressions of interest, which is the next step in determining the future use of the site.

The Repat has a very proud history of serving veterans and the wider community. Each submission will be evaluated based on community feedback and the benefits the proposal will bring to our veterans and the local community. The unique mix of heritage listed buildings, purpose-built buildings, university facilities and remaining areas of significance to veterans gives the site a flexibility which suits a variety of healthcare, aged-care and community-related purposes.

Acute clinical services currently housed at the Repatriation General Hospital are expected to transition to alternative hospital sites in 2017-18. The chapel, museum and remembrance garden will remain on the site, with ongoing access to the public. Orthotics and Prosthetics SA, as well as the Flinders University facilities and the ViTA Building, are outside the site boundary that is offered.