Medical Students

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question regarding South Australian medical students.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN: On 25 February this year, I asked the minister a question in this house regarding the concerns that South Australian medical students have raised over the closure of the Repat General Hospital and the Noarlunga emergency department, as they are important teaching facilities for the Doctor of Medicine course at Flinders University.

In my explanation to the minister, I outlined how the president of the Flinders Medical Students' Society has warned that the government's proposals have thrown the future of several placement courses into doubt, as a large component of the second, third and fourth year is taught at those sites.

In the minister's response, she informed the chamber that the government will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to identify issues of concern and work with them to overcome these issues. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister update the chamber on the government's engagement with the universities and student bodies about the issues they have raised since I asked my question on 25 February?

2. If so, can the minister update the chamber on the outcomes of those consultations?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:16): I thank the member for his questions, and will refer those questions to the Minister for Health in another place, who is the lead minister responsible for the planning of SA Health services and the changes to health structures. But I can absolutely reassure members that the Hon. Mr Snelling has been incredibly thorough and diligent in the way that he has been consulting with relevant stakeholders.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The plan that he has is to restructure, to improve the way our services are distributed across the state and to improve access for all South Australians. He has a clear plan to do that and is working very closely with all stakeholders to make those changes and improve health outcomes for South Australians.