Question Time

Regional Radiation Treatment Services

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Regional Development on critical regional services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: In the other place, a petition has been tabled today by more than 16,000 South-East residents to establish a local radiation treatment facility in Mount Gambier. My question to the minister is: now that this petition has been tabled and the community is clear in its sentiment, will she formally support the calls of more than 16,000 South-East residents to establish a local radiation treatment facility in Mount Gambier?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:21): I thank the honourable member for her question. The issue of services for cancer treatment in the Limestone Coast is an incredibly important one. I suspect that all of us either know someone or perhaps have experienced ourselves the difficulties associated with cancer and the terrible stress and distress that it causes.

I am, of course, fully aware of the number of people who have signed the petition in regard to radiation therapy services in the Limestone Coast. I expect that almost all of them, if not all of them, have sincere concerns about the difficulties that are faced by people with cancer. However, what the petition does not say is whether radiation therapy services in Mount Gambier could be delivered safely. The information that I am provided with indicates that currently radiation therapy services in the Limestone Coast could not be delivered safely at Mount Gambier.

I refer members to a statement by the local health network. Members will recall that under the previous state Liberal government, responsibility for regional health services was delegated to local health boards or local health networks. In their statement they refer to the difficulties that would exist in terms of clinical safety and they refer to their desire, which they have now put in place, to have a proper feasibility study around how radiation therapy services could be delivered safely.

That statement states that 'there are many important considerations not yet fully realised that are an essential part of providing a safe, effective' regional service. I think safety for regional people has to be the number one consideration. Having a petition for a service that couldn't be delivered safely is hardly what the people of the Limestone Coast would be expecting.

Just for members who may not be aware, a little bit of history about this. It was in May 2021, two years ago now, that the former Liberal federal government rejected a bid by the company known as ICON to establish radiation therapy services in Mount Gambier. It is interesting that, at that time, the member for Barker, who was a member of that federal Liberal government, didn't raise any complaints about that. In fact, I think it was close to about 18 months later that he first started to make some noises around it.

People have asked me why I think he would say nothing when he was part of a government that made a decision not to implement these services—why the member for Barker would say nothing until he was out of government. Some people have asked me—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please continue.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I think this is an important issue that I would hope those opposite would pay due respect to, rather than calling out across the chamber about such an important issue. Some people have asked me why I think Tony Pasin left it until roughly December last year to have a public forum, close to two years after a decision had been made, and they have asked me do I think it's in relation to the fact that there were rumours about his preselection being challenged? I have said I certainly would hope not.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I would certainly hope that no politician would use the tragedy of people facing cancer for political gain, but I can't explain why it was that Tony Pasin said nothing when the government he was part of made this decision. Also, I noted that on the steps of parliament today there were some photo opportunities around this issue, and the Leader of the Opposition in the other place—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —the member for Black, David Speirs, was standing there, and yet he was part of the cabinet of the former state Liberal government that made this decision.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: So a decision that was made by the state and federal Liberal governments, the federal decision in May 2021 was that a service could not be delivered appropriately. Following that, there were negotiations, as I am advised, between the federal and state governments on how that funding could best be used to improve cancer services in the Limestone Coast, and my understanding, from the information I have received, is that that has continued to develop.

I think it's incredibly important that we do see whether there is a way to deliver radiation therapy services safely in the Limestone Coast, and the feasibility study that has now been committed to will enable that to occur. However, I would hope that we would also like to see cancer services in general improving in the meantime. The information I have is that the local health network has now committed to proceeding with the plans that have been delayed in recent months.

I think it is something that is absolutely worth pursuing, to make sure that services in the Limestone Coast can be, as far as possible, delivered in a safe way, in an effective way, in a way that meets the needs of the local community. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the feasibility study.