Medical Resonance Imaging Licences

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister outline whether he is satisfied with the distribution of MRI Medicare licences in South Australia and whether he regards Sound Radiology as an appropriate new licence holder, and has the minister ever discussed MRI licensing with Sound Radiology before the MRI licence was granted by the federal government?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:56): First and foremost, I would like to celebrate the success of the Marshall Liberal government in that medical imaging round. We were able to secure for the people of the western suburbs an MRI licence for TQEH, something that the former Labor government was not able to achieve in their 16 years. The Hon. John Dawkins, having a strong association with the Riverland, will be pleased that there was one for Berri too. Sound Radiology is a well-respected South Australian company. They invited me to provide a letter of support to their application for an MRI licence; I declined.