Hospitals, Winter Demand

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister explain why the minister sat on the Winter Demand Strategy and did not act on it for 10 weeks, particularly given SA Health provided the minister with the Winter Demand Strategy back on 17 April this year?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:06): The honourable member revisits an issue that has been raised in this house by the opposition before. What I advised the council in the past is that this government started the Winter Demand Strategy very early in its time. One of the key achievements that I am very proud of is that we introduced free influenza vaccines for children under the age of two.

In terms of public statements being issued, a statement was issued by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, I think in early June 2018. In terms of the system-wide overview, that wasn't issued until June, but let's remember that SA Health, under the former Labor government, did not formally launch a winter demand plan in 2015 or 2017. I assure you that SA Health doesn't need a glossy brochure to implement a whole range of strategies, and that's why people can be assured that we will continue to manage winter until it is done.