Chemotherapy Treatment Error

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier give an assurance that the findings and recommendations of all government commissioned reviews, including internal disciplinary reviews, into the chemotherapy dosing scandal will be made public in a timely fashion and provided to each of the victims? The Premier advised Mr Knox yesterday that we will never know the findings of the AHPRA review or any internal disciplinary actions.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Before I call the Premier, the member for Hartley is called to order and the member for Davenport is warned for the first time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:27): Just that last bit of the answer, I would have left this to the minister to answer, but that last bit of the answer seemed to suggest that I had suggested that we wouldn't know publicly the findings. I don't think we do know that yet and I certainly don't recall saying that at the meeting. I think it was the assertion of Mr Knox that AHPRA would be private. I do not know the truth or otherwise of that, and we will take some advice on that.

In relation to disciplinary matters, once again we will take advice on that because it may or may not be appropriate for the outcome of disciplinary matters to be known publicly. I presume that public interest in this would mean that they would be made public, but once again that it something we will take advice about.

Mr Marshall: In a timely fashion?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I think the point to remember about this is that the disciplinary processes are laid down in an act of parliament, or at least in regulations or instruments that are supported through an act of parliament, and they are governed by their own processes. They are not ones that we presently are capable of interfering with, but we will take advice on that. I understand the public interest.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: If you want another question, leader, I will give you the call in a second.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I understand the public interest in understanding what the fate of these disciplinary matters will be—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned for the first time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —but there is also a very significant public interest in them being undertaken appropriately so that they don't misfire. The other element of this is that I know that there has been a high profile termination of an SA Health employee which is tangentially connected to these matters. That was made public and so, whether it is appropriate to make public the disciplinary actions in this case, we will take advice about.