REGIONAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STATEMENTS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (16:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question relating to regional impact assessment statements.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I understand that all cabinet submissions and significant decisions about services in regional SA require regional impact assessment statements. However, in the estimates hearings on 1 July this year the Minister for Health could not indicate that such a statement had been prepared regarding the Country Health Care Plan. Later that day the then minister for regional development told another estimates hearing:

Country Health SA is in the process of preparing a regional impact assessment statement, with the assistance of the Office of Regional Affairs and the Department of Trade and Economic Development, in consultation with the Regional Communities Consultative Council.

My questions are:

1. Did the preparation of the regional impact assessment statement begin only in the few hours between the two estimates hearings?

2. Why did cabinet sign off on the Country Health Care Plan without seeing a regional impact assessment statement?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (16:13): I am sure the honourable member is well aware that the Minister for Health has set up a task force to examine the particular matters.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: As I understand it, it was always envisaged that there would be input on this proposal. A plan has been put out, and consideration of the feedback relating to that plan will involve consultation with the regional community. As the technical matters involve responsibilities of my colleague the Minister for Health, I will seek a response from him relating to that.