Brain Tumour Support Coordinator

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Has the minister received a letter from the member for Schubert regarding brain cancer support and, if so, when was it sent?

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:41): Thank you for this important question from the member for Elizabeth. As I said earlier today—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: As I said today, we treat the issue of cancer support very seriously and we also treat issues in terms of where people come to us where there is genuine need that needs to be addressed very seriously. I was concerned that I hadn't received a letter when this topic was raised a few days ago and I asked my office. I looked into it and we hadn't received any proposal or any correspondence in relation to this. The member for Schubert earlier in question time said that she had written to me, so I have made inquiries during question time, and I can confirm that I have received now a letter from the member for Schubert. That was sent by email today—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Newland!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —and in fact the time that that email was sent to my ministerial inbox was 1.57pm today.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Newland! Member for Badcoe! Member for Schubert! The minister has the call. The Premier is called to order.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: This is a serious topic and we want to treat it very seriously and look into it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Schubert is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I can confirm that the office manager for the Schubert electorate office emailed that at 1.57pm. This is a serious issue and one that we want to address seriously.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Badcoe! Member for Newland! Member for Elder! Member for Davenport! Member for Wright! Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: I think for the member for Schubert to expect that between 1.57pm, when the bells are ringing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —and we are all coming up here to question time, and when she asked me—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —at approximately 2.15pm that we are going to be able to investigate this matter, have talked to the clinicians—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —and established a funding agreement and have put in place all of those measures—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —within the space of two minutes, I think that sending that letter at 1.57pm just before question time, three minutes before question time, is unfortunately completely disingenuous and shows that the real interest is in terms of the spin doctoring of this issue rather than genuinely raising it with us to enable it to be properly considered and make sure that we can look into it and provide the appropriate supports. I do want to make sure that we improve cancer services in this state, but if the approach from the opposition is going to be to email something—

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, there is a point of order.

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert, you are on a final warning. Point of order, member for Morialta.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Thank you, sir. There has been significant context but now standing order 98: the minister is debating.

The SPEAKER: That may be; however, it may also be that the minister has concluded his answer, or not.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: We genuinely want to look into this issue, but between 1.57pm today and 2.15pm today—

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Unley!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —we were unable to properly consider the proposal that was sent to us by the member for Schubert—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —and I would invite her in the future to raise issues with us. She has my number, she has my email, she has my PO box, she has multiple ways of contacting the government to raise issues. Clearly that was not the approach of the member for Schubert. In this case, the approach from the member for Schubert was to achieve political ends rather than service ends.