ABORTION STATISTICS

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Health, a question about pregnancy terminations.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The opposition has been advised that between half and three-quarters of the pregnancy terminations being conducted at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital are being provided to international students. Based on the 2007 annual report of the South Australian Abortion Reporting Committee, this would represent up to 460 terminations. My questions are:

1. How many international students have had a termination of pregnancy in South Australian metropolitan hospitals in each of the past five years?

2. Does the government have any strategy or plan to ensure that international students have access to education, information and support on contraceptive options?

3. So that trends such as these can be monitored, will the minister ensure that the annual report of the South Australian Abortion Reporting Committee includes indicators of the use of South Australian abortion services by non-South Australian residents?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (14:33): I will refer those questions to the Minister for Health in another place and bring back a response.