Rural Health Workforce

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:11): Supplementary: the member for MacKillop, presumably on behalf of the Marshall Liberal team—

The PRESIDENT: No, a question.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: He asked me a question, so I answered it.

The PRESIDENT: No, you ask the question.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: My question is: when will the reinstatement of maternity services at Waikerie occur and when will the reinstatement of Millicent services for maternity occur?

The PRESIDENT: That is a repeat of the previous question.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:11): If the honourable members of the opposition want to continue to peddle half-truths and less than half-truths, that is going to continually undermine the confidence of country South Australians—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —in their health services. Let me start with Ceduna.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Let me start with Ceduna. Ceduna—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: No, I'm sorry; I will answer this question.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, resume your seat. I think there might be a point of order. It is very hard to hear it.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The point of order?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Point of order: the questions were specifically about Waikerie and Millicent and the minister is talking about Ceduna.

The PRESIDENT: I might add that it is a fairly long bow for Waikerie and Millicent out of the original answer. The minister has the opportunity to respond.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Take your medicine.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I thank my honourable ministerial colleague for the reminder to talk slowly for the opposition. Let's explain the experience of Ceduna. Ceduna is not dissimilar to what Waikerie—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I can't even get half a sentence down. This is disrupting the house.

The PRESIDENT: Order! There is a point of order. The minister will resume his seat.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: As the last point of order pointed out, sir, the question had nothing to do at all with Ceduna. It was about Waikerie and Millicent.

The PRESIDENT: The original question was about regional health and that is what the minister is referring to.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I would put it to the residents of Waikerie that they should be taking courage—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Opposition Whip is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I would say to the residents of Waikerie that not only is their local health network working assiduously to recruit and retain the midwifery services that are required to maintain the birthing services at Waikerie but, in that context, they should take encouragement from the work of the team at Ceduna. The Ceduna midwifery team, working in a midwifery group practice, engaging new—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: How does that help Millicent?

The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable Leader of the Opposition might like to listen. Minister, I am sure you are going to conclude your answer soon.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I certainly agree with you, Mr President. This is taking twice as long because of the interjections from the opposition.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The South Australian nursing and midwifery workforce plan is—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I don't think they want to listen. Resume your seat, minister. The Hon. Ms Bonaros has the call.