Health Review

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Health. What is the cost of the Transforming Health mail campaign to the southern and western suburbs that is currently being distributed?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:02): I am happy to get a cost and get that back to the house. I make no apologies, and I refer to statements made by, again, my new-found ally, the Hon. Stephen Wade, who, last night in the other place, was saying that the government should be doing more to educate the community about the changes. I can assure the house, and I can assure the Hon. Stephen Wade, that this government will be making sure that there is not a single South Australian who does not understand extensively all the reforms we are making, and we will do everything we possibly can.

There are some in the community—and I won't say who, but there have been some (and people know who I am speaking about)—who have been telling blatant lies. They have been saying things such as the Modbury Hospital emergency department is closed. I have seen pamphlets, put out by certain people, saying that. That is not only an appalling lie but it is also incredibly dangerous to put out a message that is known to be false and deters people from going to the Modbury Hospital emergency department.

I have to say that I don't think there are very many examples of a greater recklessness with the safety of South Australians than someone making up something like that and distributing that blatantly false information in the local community. I will not spare any expense in making sure that South Australians know what the health services are that are available in their local hospital, to combat the lies that have been spread by certain people who have been spreading this misinformation because it is a danger to public safety.