Proton Therapy Unit

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (14:40): My question is to the Treasurer. When did the Treasurer last speak with the federal health minister about having a proton therapy unit in South Australia, and what was the nature of those discussions?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:40): I am always friendly with my good friend Mark Butler. People don't remember this, but Mark and I were preselected for two seats together in 1995. He was going to run for the seat that is now Badcoe and I was running for the seat that was Peake, and Mark and I—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am just trying to be polite. I am concerned about the level of partisanship and I want people to follow my example. I think if people followed my example, we would all get along much better.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I like to reach across the aisle where there will be more Labor members sitting across there as well. I can't remember the exact date, but it was recently. I will get you the exact date so I don't give a misleading date to the parliament. The point that I make to Mark Butler, the point that I make to the commonwealth government and the point that I make to anyone in the commonwealth who listens—as recently as the trade minister, a few days ago, at Woolworths in Mile End—is that the fastest way to get proton therapy treatments—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, we were opening a brand-new distribution centre.

Mr Brown: Someone said 'shopping' and he got excited.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Someone said 'shopping' and he got excited. Actually, it's about the right time, isn't it, too? Grocery time. Isn't that when you like to go and wander around the shops and have a look?

The point that I make to all my commonwealth colleagues is this: the fastest way to get this therapy in Australia is in South Australia. We have the building, we have commitments from the owners of the building, we have commitments from the South Australian government and SA Health are building a team. The fastest place to get this therapy up and running is here in South Australia.

I am convinced that the commonwealth government will do the right thing and choose South Australia and obviously, ultimately, can find a new funding source. That's what Mark Butler is doing. He is an exceptionally good health minister, and I think he is one of those members of parliament from South Australia who is having a real impact in Canberra. We are very lucky on this side of the house to have such impactful members of the federal cabinet from South Australia. They are united, and it's not rare. What is rare are shadow ministers for net zero. I have a great deal of affection for the member for Morphett, and I am just worried about him. We might have to put him under glass as an endangered species.

Mr TEAGUE: Point of order, sir—98(a).

The SPEAKER: I think the Treasurer has finished.