SA Pathology

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): My question is to the Premier. Why did the Premier allow the health minister to sit on the report for four weeks before bringing it to cabinet?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:11): I am very interested in the Leader of the Opposition's line of questioning, so I thought I would do some research on the report that the former government commissioned of Ernst and Young.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Premier, we have a point of order. One moment, please. A point of order from the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: From the moment the Premier said a 'former report', he is introducing debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is for debate.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order on the point of order. Sorry, Minister for Education?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The question was about the timeliness of the dealing with the report—

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —so it is entirely relevant.

The SPEAKER: Yes. In fairness, the Premier hasn't even warmed up yet. I will allow him a short amount of time to do so and then I expect him to come to this report. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. In deciding exactly and precisely when we would consider this report to government, and when we would consider it in cabinet and release it to the parliament, I have of course checked what the previous government's practice was in regard to this type of issue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The precedent set by those opposite gave us a lot of latitude. In fact, the report that they commissioned back in 2013-14—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am listening to the Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —was received in early 2014.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And let me explain to you, sir, precisely—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Premier, one moment, there is a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This is debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. I am going to allow the Premier some latitude and then I expect him to come to this report.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: All I can say is that I was shocked. I was shocked because the report was received by the former government in May 2014. Did they release it in June, July, August, September, October, November? No. Did they release it seven days before Christmas? Yes, on 18 December 2014. What a disgraceful question! We released it within 24 hours of it going to cabinet.