MENTAL HEALTH BEDS

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (14:46): As a further supplementary question, what incentives is the minister offering to medical and nursing staff to make that long journey to and from Murray Bridge each day?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! We are starting to get supplementary questions out of supplementary questions now. They should arise from the original answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:46): As I said, currently we are in negotiations. It is important for the government to understand the interests and concerns that individuals may have, and we have set up a process to work through that. We will then respond when that process has been completed. I remind members that Murray Bridge is approximately a 50-minute drive.

Many workers in South Australia commute that distance each day. It is outrageous to suggest that it is some sort of remote location—quite clearly it is not. The quality of the road to Murray Bridge is excellent, as my colleague behind me has stated. We are consulting with the Minister for Transport to look at public transport needs to cater for the new facilities there, and we will continue those discussions and negotiations.