Prisons, IVF Treatment

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services questions about IVF treatment in prisons.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: It has been reported that a convicted drug lord and domestic violence offender in Victoria has been allowed to access IVF treatment whilst in prison. This follows other reports of an individual sentenced for murder being able to access IVF treatment late last year, again in Melbourne. Both cases have sparked outrage from victims interstate, so much so that in that jurisdiction some major IVF providers refused to provide such treatment in the latter instance reference. My questions to the minister are:

1. What, if any, policies exist here in SA when it comes to IVF treatment for convicted criminals?

2. Have similar requests been made here in our prisons amongst convicted criminals for IVF treatment; if so, how many?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am advised that the Department for Correctional Services aims to provide prisoners with a comparable level of health care to that found in the general community. I am further advised that IVF treatments are not considered by the Department for Correctional Services to fall within the category of an essential health service. I have also been advised that considering this, it has not been the practice of DCS to approve requests for IVF in the past.