SA Pathology

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:24): My question is to the Premier. Will the government guarantee that there will be no delay for test results from implementing their cuts to SA Pathology?

The SPEAKER: Premier, would you like to have a go at that?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:24): The reality is we have just received this report. We have considered it in cabinet. They—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: PwC has provided a cure plan. I think those opposite are getting very confused about the cost of a system and the efficiency of a system. They often get confused about these concepts. The reality is that the cost of providing pathology services—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —here in South Australia is significantly higher than any other jurisdiction in the nation. This is unacceptable. So, what we want to do is to provide—

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —an acceptable pathology system in this state commensurate with what is required for this health system. We want to be able to use the money that we save to reinvest in the health system. That will be on top of the $900 million that we have had to put into the health system since coming to government to fix the mess that we inherited from those opposite.

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned. The member for Waite has been patiently waiting. I will come back to the member for Kaurna.