Brain Tumour Support Coordinator

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier commit to funding a brain tumour support coordinator in South Australia and, if not, why not? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: South Australia is currently the only state in the nation which doesn't have a brain tumour support coordinator providing support and care to patients diagnosed with a brain tumour, and to their families. Every single neurosurgeon in the state has signed a letter of support for the establishment of this position which the Neurosurgical Research Foundation estimates will cost approximately $100,000 per year.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:14): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question, and I am very happy to look at a request in relation to if there are any additional services that can be provided. This is an area of cancer support that we are already looking at in terms of the SA Cancer Plan. We have not had an operational plan for cancer in this state since 2015. That was the last time, I am advised, that the plan expired.

One of our election commitments was to make sure we do have an operational plan that is in place. We are currently in the process of consultation and drafting in relation to that plan, which we expect to have completed before the end of the year on the current time line. However, obviously I am very happy to talk in relation to a specific request. I do think it is interesting, though, that while the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Schubert have raised this in the media I have yet to receive any correspondence on this matter.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: When did you send it?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Schubert is warned. The Premier is called to order. Order, Treasurer! The minister has the call. We are going to turn to the minister.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I am very happy to check if there has been a letter in the last couple of days. I certainly asked my office on Sunday and Monday after this issue was raised if we had received a letter from the member for Black or the member for Schubert in relation to this matter, and my office was unable to find any such correspondence in relation to this.

I am also advised that the member for Schubert had been apparently raising this issue for some months on her social media, yet has not taken the time to raise it with me. I am very happy—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Florey!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: As people will know, there is a lot of need in terms of our healthcare system. There is a lot of additional need that we need to put in place. Obviously, this was not something that the Leader of the Opposition, when he was sitting around the cabinet table only 14 months ago, thought needed to be put in place. However, of course, we are expanding health services in a whole variety of different areas.

If there is a particular need that we can look into, I am very happy to do that. If the opposition identify issues where they believe that additional funding or additional resources need to be made available, of course they have every right to raise that in the media. However, I think that it would be appropriate—and I think South Australians would expect them to do that as well—to actually put that request to the appropriate minister as well so that it can be properly considered.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Florey! Member for Hartley, order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I invite the shadow minister and the Leader of the Opposition—

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey is warned for a second time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The exchange between the member for Morialta and the member for Florey will cease.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I invite the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Schubert to raise this matter—and any other matters of which they become aware—with me so that we can make sure that it can be properly considered and that we can make sure the clinical teams can meet with the people concerned. Up until Monday this had not occurred, to the advice that I have. I obviously want to make sure that we can look into this.