Homelessness

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:05): A supplementary question: how many people have been discharged from our hospital systems to homelessness in the last year?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:06): I don't regard that as a supplementary question, but I—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I will decide if it's a supplementary question.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Sorry—well, let's put it this way: I wasn't referring to inpatients. These are people in the community who are receiving flu vaccines. If I could just respond to the spirit of the honourable member's question by saying that, as minister, I was pleased that health services were reminded recently that it is not our policy and it should not be our practice that people are discharged into homelessness.

Having said that, it is a challenge for health services. We are not, if you like, the homeless service of last resort, but we do try our best to make sure that people have an orderly, safe discharge from hospital, and health services are being reminded of that responsibility.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke, a supplementary question arising from the original answer?