Regional Radiation Treatment Services

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Given that the minister's government is visiting the seat of MacKillop next week, can the people of the South-East expect the state government to make any announcement about delivering radiotherapy services?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for her question. It is certainly the case that cabinet will be visiting the South-East next week; we have a country cabinet located in Naracoorte.

Country cabinet, of course, is something we reinstituted, as a government, upon winning the election in March last year, and it is something that continues to be widely appreciated, as evidenced by the most recent one held up in the Hills, which had pretty much standing room only. I think it was over 600 people attending the forum.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Unfortunately, we hear those opposite snickering and laughing and making comments about the fact that the Hills community was listened to by our government, which is something that I think the Hills community will be very interested to hear about the way that they are viewed by those opposite. In fact, regional residents overall have spoken on a number of occasions in various places about how much they value country cabinet and how disappointed they were with the Liberal government when they were in government, because they refused to engage in that sort of forum and—

The PRESIDENT: You may want to talk about the topic.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Sorry?

The PRESIDENT: You may want to talk to the answer.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: She asked me about country cabinet in MacKillop next week, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: It's a serious question about radiotherapy.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: And, yes, they have certainly said how much they appreciate it and how disappointed they were with the Liberals axing it when they were in government. Of course, that was reflected in some of the reports that came out post-election from the Liberals saying how out of touch they were—the Liberals were—with the various country communities and how they didn't want to listen. In terms of the radiation therapy—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! We are now talking about the radiotherapy, so silence.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: In terms of the radiation therapy, members might recall that this was something that was put forward—there was federal funding available—in the term of the previous Liberal government, but the then state Liberal government didn't wish to proceed with it, so they didn't progress it any further. Since coming to government, the Malinauskas Labor government has actually put in place steps to investigate the feasibility of a radiation treatment centre in the South-East, and that process is ongoing.

As far as I am aware, that hasn't yet had a report issued. Certainly, I will take that on notice and ask the Minister for Health in the other place whether there is any report released, but to my understanding that is not the case as yet. But certainly, I am really pleased that the Malinauskas Labor government has taken some action to progress this, remembering that it was the Liberals, both state and federal, who refused this particular project.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: They walked away.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: They walked away from it. They did nothing in terms of actually progressing whether it was feasible, what would need to be in place, what would be required for safety. None of that was done under the Liberal government—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —but then two years later they decide to play politics, as we have seen with a number of other very important issues: they chose to play politics with people's suffering from cancer.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: That is what we have from those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: What we have from our government is actually making progress—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Sit down. The minister will conclude her remarks and she will be heard in silence.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: So what we see from our government is actually steps to progress this, to see whether it's feasible, to see what would be required for it to be an effective and safe service. I look forward to that outcome.