Question Time

Australian Craniofacial Unit

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:46): My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health. What action has the government taken to address allegations raised by the South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association of cartel-like behaviour, nepotism and maladministration by current senior management of the Australian Craniofacial Unit. With your leave and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens and the Minister for Education will not interject. Member for Kaurna.

Mr PICTON: An email to the Minister for Health dated yesterday, Wednesday 25 July, states, and I quote:

In brief, the association holds concerns about reports of what equates to cartel-like behaviour and nepotism by senior management of the [ACFU] which could amount to maladministration and has grave impacts on patient care including on overseas patients who are not being treated by Australian specialists which has already resulted in unnecessary deaths.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:47): The ministerial statement that I have just tabled on behalf of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing does address that issue. I note that the shadow minister has twice shared those allegations under parliamentary privilege. The Minister for Health and Wellbeing, though, of course is not doing that. He is looking into the matter. As the ministerial statement makes very clear, he will not be making any more public comments on this issue until pursuing it further in very appropriate ways, and so, of course, neither will I.