Coronavirus

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:15): Supplementary arising from some part of that answer that was given: minister, do drive-through clinics or hospital clinics require a GP referral in South Australia? Is the minister aware if that follows the practice in other jurisdictions in Australia?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:15): Again, I am going to resist the temptation of taking public health coaching from the Labor Party. I can assure you that I am going to let the public health clinicians decide how these services are going to be delivered. Be that as it may—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Excuse me, I'm trying to answer the question.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Point of order.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, sit down. Let me hear the point of order.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: A point of order: no advice was being given. It was a very simple question asked very respectfully.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, hang on. It's not a point of order. The minister will answer how he sees fit, and he will be heard in silence.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The reality is—

The Hon. E.S. Bourke interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke, you couldn't wait five seconds. Listen in silence. Minister, please continue.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: A number of clinics operate in distinctive ways, depending on their circumstances. For example, a number of country clinics are run in GP clinics, where a referral is not required. Many of the clinics are actually linked to hospital services. Some sites do require a referral from a GP, but the majority of sites have now ceased that. SA Pathology sites, such as Tanunda, do require referrals. As I said, that is the practice of SA Pathology at its two drive-through sites in the metropolitan area. I will pass on the coaching tips from the Labor Party to Tom Dodd. I'm sure he will give them due consideration.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, unnecessary.