Patient Assistance Transport Scheme

The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General regarding the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: On 13 September this year, the government supported my motion on the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme. This motion acknowledged that we need an immediate review of our ineffective Patient Assistance Transport Scheme. More than 13,000 South Australians who received financial support last year through the scheme rely on it.

ABS data has found that the highest mortality rates over the last 10 years were in country towns, including Ceduna, Port Pirie and Port Augusta. The expansion improvement of the scheme is crucial to ensure accessibility, efficiency and responsiveness to the changing needs of South Australians. The government has accepted that it needs to review its current framework.

My question to the Attorney-General is: when will the Malinauskas government review the scheme and will the government plan to consult with clients and stakeholders?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for her question about the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme. I will refer that to my colleague the Minister for Health in another place and bring back a reply.