SA Pathology

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is to the Premier.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Child Protection is called to order.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Will the Premier now guarantee that SA Pathology will not be privatised?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:13): As I was saying earlier, we received the report. It was considered by cabinet within 24 hours, and probably within 18 hours we released it in full for everybody to read. Now, I don't know whether you have had a chance to read it yet—

Mr Malinauskas: No.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: No. Well, get online!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What a lazy opposition we have, sir. What a lazy opposition we have. He was the minister for health. He should have a pretty good idea of what a mess we inherited when we came to power. Anyway, the reality is that the work is being done. We completely reject the course that those opposite were taking when they were in government: to close six sites and to remove 323 health professionals from SA Pathology. We completely reject the suggestion of the previous government, that pathway that they had towards efficiency within SA Pathology. We instead—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The leader is called to order. We have the question.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have looked at that report very carefully, and we will be implementing its findings. We have considered—

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: There will be no imminent closure of SA Pathology. The report recommends that SA Pathology be given additional time to achieve the efficiencies that we expect, acting on behalf of the taxpayers of South Australia. I think it's pretty hypocritical of the opposition to be raising questions about our motives in terms of SA Pathology. They themselves had commissioned a report. They themselves have said—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: this is debating the point.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order, Premier. I have given the Premier some latitude in the first four minutes. I ask him to come back to the substance of the question, please.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As I was saying, we have a report.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It is recommending that further efficiencies be delivered by SA Pathology. It is recommending that a further report be put in place within 12 to 18 months. We have accepted that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

Mr Hughes interjecting:

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

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We certainly do expect further efficiencies in SA Pathology. We are acting responsibly on behalf of the taxpayers of South Australia. They expect an efficient hospital system. They expect an efficient use of taxpayer dollars. That's precisely what is contained in the report. I suggest you take a look at it, read it and come back with some other questions.