SA Pathology

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:00): A further supplementary in relation to the answer dealing with country health generally: can the minister confirm that he has had no advice whatsoever as to what portion of the $105 million being slashed from SA Pathology will be wrought upon country health services?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:00): What has happened since the last budget is that SA Pathology has set about looking at efficiencies within SA Pathology.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: No, no; you did. They don't do these things themselves.

The PRESIDENT: I've allowed you the supplementary.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: He takes no responsibility for anything.

The PRESIDENT: We don't need your commentary.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: You did it, Stephen.

The PRESIDENT: We do not need your commentary.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The PricewaterhouseCoopers report has been commissioned but my understanding is that it does not report until March. The efficiencies out of the budget, as I said, are in two waves, through management and through PwC. There are certainly ongoing efficiencies that SA Pathology has been working on. After all, the former Labor government had efficiency targets for health units and they would have been progressing before the Liberal government budget.