Western Desert Dialysis

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Health. Why is SA Health yet to publicly respond to the business case that Western Desert Dialysis sent it more than six months ago which, if supported, would allow dialysis services to be provided permanently on the APY lands?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:44): The issues here are very complex with regard to providing dialysis on the lands. I think it's important to canvass the views of Nganampa Health on the APY lands. They are very sceptical, in my conversations with them, about having permanent dialysis there on the lands. You have to remember it's not easy.

One clinic providing dialysis on the lands in one location is not going to be able to provide dialysis to all the people who live all the way across the lands, simply because of its size and the difficulty in travel. If you are living at one end of the lands, it is not practical to travel for dialysis on a regular basis.

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is warned.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: If you were to have a permanent dialysis facility, it would only cater to those people who are living in basically the immediate vicinity of that clinic. It would not be enough to provide dialysis. It would not be a silver bullet that would provide dialysis to people from all over the lands.

Having said that, we are looking very closely at the proposal that has been put to us by the Purple House. The difficulties are not just one of logistics but also we need to make sure that the budget works for us. At the moment, we do provide funding for people who have to travel to Alice Springs, across the border, for dialysis and there is a cross-charging arrangement with the Northern Territory government to provide dialysis to those people, so these are complex financial arrangements. However, I do believe that we are very close to having this matter resolved and being able to get back to the Purple House with the government's position.