Question Time

State Emergency Management Plan

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): My question is to the Premier. When will SA Health finalise the emergency plan, recommended by the Burns review, to address critical service delivery for vulnerable and at-risk persons and those reliant on medical equipment at their homes?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health, Minister Assisting the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:15): I thank the leader very much for his question. I refer back to my ministerial statement in which I outlined a number of the significant works that the government has underway in regard to the Burns review. In fact, we released an update on the Burns review back in July which outlined, across government, the significant work that is being undertaken, and—

Mr Knoll: That's right, and nothing has changed since that update.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: There has absolutely been a lot of progress—

Mr Knoll: Not one recommendation has been completed since July.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —a lot of progress undertaken by people across government, including our police and including our health services, to ensure that we are up to date and we have the best possible procedures in place to deal with an emergency. Of course, there are some areas in which we still have work underway and things are yet to reach a final conclusion, but that does not mean to say that we haven't improved our capability in those areas.

For instance, as I was outlining in terms of the evacuation plan, which also deals with vulnerable people and the management of hospital patients and the like, we have that plan in draft capacity ready to go now. I am advised by the police that if there were such an event now, that plan would be used, but it is still in the final process of being completed in terms of final consultation with all the agencies. But if it had to be used today, then that plan would be used today.

In regard to the specifics of the health plan in particular, I am happy to take that on notice and get the exact update on where that particular recommendation is up to. But, I know that Health have been working particularly well with our emergency services and our police to ensure that we have the best capability and best preparedness as possible to deal with an emergency.