Regional Health Services

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:12): Can the minister advise why the budget papers show two dozen positions in Country Health being cut?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:12): Labor has a chronic problem, and that is their inability to understand budgets. The fact of the matter is that the FTE estimates in the budget are estimates; they are not targets. For example, in the Central Adelaide Local Health Network the—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: We are talking about Country Health.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Let me just explain how budgets work. If you can't read Country Health, let me give you an example from Central Adelaide Local Health Network. Under the Marshall Liberal government there has been a 90 per cent reduction in the use of agency staff at CALHN. Now, that would—

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Point of order, Mr President: both the original question and all the supplementaries have been about Country Health, whereas the minister is talking about central.

The PRESIDENT: The minister has some leeway under the conventions, and the minister, as I understand it, is using that to lead into an explanation to your answer.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Obviously, the honourable member is having trouble following the logic, so let me help. The fact of the matter is that FTE in the budget is about estimates, not targets. For example, in the last financial year, CALHN had an FTE reduction estimate, and one of the ways that they delivered on the savings that were expected of them was a reduction in the use of agency staff. There was a 90 per cent reduction in agency staff. That would have, if you like, equated to some of the FTE reduction in last year's budget. Just like CALHN, each of the networks within Country Health, under the guidance of their board, has the responsibility to assess the best way to manage their budget.

I can assure you that country South Australians are much more confident that they will be able to deliver good outcomes for their communities in partnership with new boards, new CEOs, boards that can appoint their own CEOs, budgets that they themselves will be able to work with their networks in delivering. Those decisions are much more likely to reflect the needs, values and priorities of country South Australians than a Labor government could from Hindmarsh Square.