Regional Nursing Students

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Health. Is the minister aware of discriminatory practices within SA Health that seriously disadvantage regional nursing students? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BELL: I have been contacted by a number of nursing students from Mount Gambier who have been informed that nursing accommodation at Mount Barker, which is free, is reserved exclusively for metropolitan nursing students. It appears to me that nursing students from my electorate are being discriminated against because they live in a region and not metropolitan Adelaide.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:59): Thank you to the member for Mount Gambier. As I acknowledged in relation to the member for MacKillop's question, I acknowledge that the member for Mount Gambier has been passionate in terms of advocating for regional nursing students undertaking their placements.

That is certainly new information to me that there is an issue in terms of Mount Barker nursing accommodation and something I am very keen to take up and seek further details from the member for Mount Gambier and seek appropriate responses from the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network who administer the Mount Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital and associated entities, including nurses' accommodation, as to why that would be in place and what we can do to make sure that there is equitable access.