SA Health, ICAC Report

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:29): Supplementary: why won't the Minister for Health give the ICAC commissioner the money he needs to do his job, or is he trying to protect his mates for the minister?

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Point of order, Mr President: I just don't think there is any need for shouting and carrying on. That is just unparliamentary. The acoustics in this place, Mr President, are more than adequate without hysterics.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Point of order: I think the Hon. Mr Stephens is being quite sexist in using the word 'hysterics' simply because the Acting Leader of the Opposition—myself—is female. I think that is outrageous behaviour and should be censured.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: All calm down.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:30): I appreciate the Hon. Terry Stephens protecting me from harassment and bullying. In terms of the substance of the honourable member's question, we are giving—sorry, with all due respect, not from my portfolio but from the generosity of the Treasurer and the Attorney-General—the ICAC commissioner more than $15 million a year in terms of ongoing funding. In fact, the generosity of the Treasurer knows no bounds, because I am reliably informed it is going up. The ICAC commissioner is going to get more money to do more work in the coming years.

In fact, my understanding is that by 2022-23 it will be an additional 1.2. In other words, in two years he has the $2 million, but it is up to the ICAC commissioner to prioritise work within his work program. Considering that SA Health is about a third of the budget, there is a significant portion—one could say $5 million—of this budget that one would expect would be dedicated to health related matters. It is always up to the ICAC commissioner to prioritise his workload. It is not appropriate for the government to direct his work. The Treasurer and the Attorney-General are ensuring that he is funded to discharge his duties and they will continue to do so.