HIV Services

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:23): My question is to the Premier. Why are you closing the Centacare Cheltenham house HIV service, which saves the government twice as much money as it costs through reduction in ED visits?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, the member for Kaurna has asked a question. The minister responsible in this house has an opportunity to answer that question in silence. Minister.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:23): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am happy to take this question on behalf of the Minister for Health in the other place. This is a serious question. There wouldn't be anybody in this chamber, certainly not on this side of the house, who doesn't want care for people who need it. But we are going about delivering health care differently from the way that the previous government did. Let me share some information with the shadow minister for health on exactly this topic. Following the McCann review between 2011 and 2017, the health promotion budget in SA Health was cut by two-thirds.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Programs for blood-borne viruses, STIs and HIV were largely insulated from cuts, with budgets remaining relatively stable throughout the period.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Funding will be removed entirely from one HIV program provided by Centacare—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: Just because it's in the western suburbs.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned for a second and final time.

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —as it does not reflect contemporary models of care. Other funding reductions reflect the prevalence of the condition, changes in appropriate care and treatment, and the ability to deliver services using Medicare funding.