Hospital Management Investigation

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): How does the minister respond to Andrew Knox, the victim of the chemotherapy dosage bungle, when he insists on a judicial inquiry to deal with the culture in SA Health, including the serious clinical governance failings highlighted in the Villis Marshall report?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:19): I have met with Mr Knox, and my office in fact has been in constant contact with Mr Knox since that meeting to check on his welfare and his general satisfaction with the actions we are taking. Now there is no doubt—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Was he satisfied?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —that Mr Knox has a particular view with regard to—

Mr Pederick: Yes, funny about that.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —the parliament undertaking a review. I have said to him, as I have said publicly, I'm quite comfortable with a parliamentary inquiry into this matter; it is of sufficient seriousness to warrant a parliamentary inquiry. However, I do caution members opposite, and members in the other place: they shouldn't take any action which in any way compromises either the investigations currently underway within SA Health, the disciplinary processes in place within SA Health or, more importantly, the AHPRA investigations.

We have to remember we have reported the clinicians involved in this particular matter to AHPRA. AHPRA have powers to make recommendations; so it will have sweeping powers with regard to investigating these sorts of matters, and can make recommendations to the Medical Board up to deregistration of medical practitioners. I think it's very important that those processes be allowed to happen.

In the same way we would not have a parliamentary inquiry running parallel to either a police investigation or a trial, I do not believe we should be having an upper house inquiry while these investigations are going on. Now Mr Knox has a different opinion to that, and I respect that. Mr Knox has been through a terrible ordeal, and I have met with him and personally apologised to him for what he has been put through. However, I respectfully disagree with him on that particular matter.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Stuart and warn for the first time the member for Hammond. Leader.