PHILIP KENNEDY CENTRE

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:07): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the minister representing the Minister for Health on the subject of the Philip Kennedy Hospice.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: The Philip Kennedy Hospice at Largs Bay is unique in that it provides a hospice under the roof of a nursing home. The hospice section is a 12-bed unit run by an experienced team of qualified nurses. That team is supported by local GP practices, the Central Adelaide Palliative Service, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and others. Patients are admitted from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital community and other health service facilities, obviously, for the last weeks, or perhaps months, of their lives. I am advised that approximately 300 patients a year are serviced through this hospice and it has been running for more than 25 years.

Last week, I think it was, Premier Weatherill and minister Snelling made a decision to remove funding from the hospital. I am advised the grant is approximately $1 million a year and I am advised that those associated with the hospice believe that will lead to the closure of the Philip Kennedy Hospice. Clearly, that decision is being strongly opposed by family members and acquaintances of people who are either using the services of the Philip Kennedy Hospice or have previously used the services of the Philip Kennedy Hospice.

The government's position, as best I can understand it, is that the government will replace the Philip Kennedy Hospice with alternative service options for palliative care in and around the western suburbs community. My questions to the minister are:

1. Will the government, through its decision to remove $1 million in funding from Philip Kennedy Hospice, be achieving any net budget savings by its decision and, if so, what is the level of net budget savings for the financial years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17?

2. What are the alternative service options that the government says will be implemented by the government to replace the palliative care services provided by the Philip Kennedy Hospice and what are the detailed costs of these options for each of the financial years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:10): I will take that question—I think 10 questions—to the Minister for Health and Ageing in another place and seek a response on his behalf.