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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-07-24 Daily Xml
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COUNTRY HEALTH CARE PLAN

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (15:25): I want to speak briefly about the South Australian Country Health Care Plan and put clearly on the record where the opposition stands and why. On reading that report, anyone who knows anything about rural affairs and the attitude of country people would have to have something wrong with them not to come to the conclusion that this is a nasty, vindictive document. There was something wrong to let this document out and not realise the implications of it. The people I feel sorry for are those members of the Public Service who have been sent out to try to explain and defend this document when they were not the architects of it.

This document has made a vicious attack on the hospitals in my electorate, and, to the best of my ability, I will make sure that the services under attack are maintained. Let me make one or two points. I am told that on 13 June Dr Sherbon told a group of doctors which hospitals were on the hit list and what was going to happen to them, and we want a full explanation from that particular gentleman about the comments he made to those doctors, because that was publicly stated. I also want to know who the architects of this document are, because members of Country Health SA have told meetings I have attended that they knew about this plan only one hour before it was released. So, there is no point in talking to them; they were not included.

The bloke with the earrings and one or two others in the Health Commission wrote it. I say that the minister ought to take a look at this character: it would really instil him with confidence! These people have set out to rough up and viciously attack country people; and, once you do that, you have to expect there will be a bit coming back. Not only do I want to see this particular health plan withdrawn, I would like to see the services of those who wrote it withdrawn; because, surely, there must be better people in the Public Service in South Australia who have a feeling for country people and who clearly understand that they are entitled to services.

I say to the house and to the member for Giles: what will happen at Leigh Creek? What will you do to the services up there? That will be a challenge for you—a real challenge. I want the minister to tell us. I asked him a question on the day this document was released. I did not really get an answer. They skirted around it. That is a challenge for him, a real challenge. Of course, there are other issues. The Kapunda Hospital was talked about in the very week it was awarded a special commendation for its services, and the government wants to take those services away.

This document has caused great anguish throughout rural South Australia. Hundreds of people have attended meetings, and they are particularly concerned. They feel ownership of their hospitals. They have worked for them and supported them and they want to continue to do so. I really believe the time has come when we must re-establish country health boards so that local people have an adequate and effective say about their day-to-day running. The bureaucrats got rid of the health boards because they knew that country people would never support the downgrading of services. Surely, in a democracy, those people are entitled to have a fair amount of the resources spent in their local areas.

If you want to gut a small community, downgrade or take away their school or hospital and you will have successfully destroyed it. Members on this side of the house are not involved in that. The member for Giles worked herself into such a state early today. I suggest that she read the speech Dr Lloyd has made on a couple of occasions and respond to his comments, questions and challenges, and then her comments will have a little more substance and credibility. She got very angry, but I do not know why she got so angry because when people asked questions they were not getting answers. That is why they got more angry; that is why they got upset. That is why they are concerned about it.

Time expired.

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