Regional Radiation Treatment Services

Ms PRATT (Frome) (14:41): Thank you, Mr Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned. The member for Frome has the call. Member for Frome, do not invite interjections.

Ms PRATT: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the government fund radiation treatment services in the Limestone Coast? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms PRATT: More than 16,000 people have now signed a petition with the Limestone Coast working group to represent that the government fund radiation treatment services in the Limestone Coast.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:42): I thank the shadow minister for suicide prevention for her question. I haven't had many questions from the shadow minister, but I certainly do welcome the question and hope we can hear more of her and more opportunities for her to speak to the media.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens! Member for Frome! The Premier is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader! Member for Frome! The Premier is called to order. The member for Hammond is warned. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Thank you very much, sir, for protecting me from the interruptions. This is an important subject in terms of how we can improve services in the Limestone Coast. People will be very clear in terms of our understanding that we are investing significantly in additional services for people in the Limestone Coast in health services. We are expanding the emergency department, we are expanding mental health services and we are also expanding drug rehabilitation and detox services, as well as expanding ambulance services, all in the Limestone Coast.

This is obviously an important topic in relation to cancer services as well. The history of this subject, of course, is that a number of years ago, under both the federal Liberal government and the state Liberal government, there was a decision made—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Frome! Member for Florey, order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Under the federal Liberal government and the state Liberal government there was funding available to establish radiation oncology services in the Limestone Coast. What was the decision made? The decision was made by the previous government not to invest in those services in the Limestone Coast.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wright! Member for Newland!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Here we have the Liberals, and Tony Pasin running around as well, and not a peep—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Chaffey! The minister has the call. Member for Frome!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —from them about this before the election. The government changes and they are suddenly raising this as an issue. It is disgraceful—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Frome!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —to play politics with people's health on this issue. At the same time, the former state Liberal government instituted local governing boards to look after local health services. We have a Limestone Coast Local Health Network—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert! The leader!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —that is established—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: We have a local health board that is established to discuss, meet, consider and plan for local health services—

The Hon. D.J. Speirs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader! The minister has the call. The Treasurer is called to order.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Now that this issue has been raised—after it was rejected by the previous government under the leadership of the member for Dunstan—I have asked the local health network and its board to reconsider this issue. I do have good news for members in that we are now—

Ms Savvas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Newland!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —going to be undertaking a feasibility study and business case in relation to whether these services can be safely delivered in the Limestone Coast.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Compared to zero action under the member for Dunstan and his government, we will now be undertaking work in relation to this matter that was ignored for four years under them.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!