Question Time

Australian Craniofacial Unit

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question regarding the Australian Craniofacial Unit.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The minister made reference to an email that was sent from the South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association that I understand was received by his office yesterday. The minister in his ministerial statement said that he wouldn't be making any more comment on this matter. I think it is important that we have some of the facts on this matter before the chamber. That email reads, relevantly, and I will quote from the email from SASMOA:

Reports of what equates to cartel-like behaviour and nepotism by senior management of the Australian Craniofacial Unit which could amount to maladministration and has grave impacts on patient care, including on overseas patients who are not being treated by Australian specialists, which has already resulted in unnecessary deaths. The concerns include—

I am further quoting from the email—

lack of transparency and failure to follow—

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Point of order.

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, sit down and listen to the point of order.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I am concerned that this line of questioning may prejudice other—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: This is not a point of order

The PRESIDENT: It is not a sub judice—

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —processes that relate to the Office for Public Integrity.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I am not aware of it being in front of any formal body at this stage and it wasn't clear from the ministerial statement that it is sub judice, so I am going to allow the Leader of the Opposition to complete his question.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Thank you, Mr President. The concerns raised by SASMOA include lack of transparency and failure to follow proper merit-based selection processes in relation to recent recruitment of key roles within the ACFU; allegations of bullying and harassment by members and staff against senior surgeons within the ACFU and the WCH; and changes to the services and standard and model of care provided to the ACFU without any consultation. My questions to the minister are:

1. If his office received this yesterday, why was it only brought to his attention, as he says, late this morning?

2. Have all the concerns raised by SASMOA been addressed by the so-called independent review? If not, which concerns have not been addressed by that review?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:24): The reason the email sent yesterday was not received until today was because of an incorrect email address used by SASMOA. That matter was rectified this morning and the email was received this morning. Beyond that, I refer the member to my ministerial statement.