Dialysis Transport Service

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding dialysis treatment.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Previously, Aboriginal dialysis patients who needed assistance travelling to and from lifesaving medical treatment in metropolitan Adelaide were transferred through a service delivered by a community organisation, Sonder. This service was funded through the Adelaide public health network and the federal government's Closing the Gap program. However, on 1 October the program was discontinued after the Adelaide public health network and the federal government slashed funding for this service.

Nari Sinclair, who I had the pleasure of spending time with today, is one of those dialysis patients who relies heavily on this service. Nari has started a petition to urge the state government to step up and make sure that either they fill this funding gap or that the federal government continues to make this funding available. I also had the pleasure of speaking to a number of Kungas from Ernabella who also receive similar dialysis treatment at hospitals around Adelaide.

Many Aboriginal people face levels of disadvantage most of us don't in metropolitan Adelaide. These services are relied on very heavily by many Aboriginal people from some of the most remote communities in South Australia when they come to Adelaide to receive such treatment. My question to the minister is: what will the minister do for Nari and other such patients about these cuts and what guarantee will he give that the state government will cover the cost and make sure that she and other patients can be transported to the treatment that they have had in the past and that they deserve to continue in the future?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am advised that the federally-funded programs ceased for transport for Aboriginal people requiring ongoing dialysis on 1 October. The Central Adelaide Local Health Network, I am advised, was notified of this change at the end of August and has been working to review transport services across all dialysis units using the SA Health transport policy. All patients, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, are assessed, and some have had changes to transport as a result.

We will continue to work through this, with the support of the Aboriginal health and allied health teams, to minimise any disruption to patients. I would remind the council that the Marshall Liberal government has demonstrated its strong commitment to Aboriginal services, particularly in the renal space, by our long advocacy for APY lands renal services, particularly through the Purple House network, and we will certainly continue to both develop renal dialysis opportunities for Aboriginal people on their own country but where they need to travel for other services to support them as we are able.