House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-06 Daily Xml

Contents

DISABILITY SERVICES

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Disabilities. How many Disability SA clients are currently in South Australian hospitals awaiting delivery of home support packages?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:21): The short answer is: I don't know exactly. That figure changes—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Well, that figure changes from day to day. What I do know—

An honourable member: Have a guess.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: No, I'm not going to guess.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Sorry; it is an important issue that is worthy of more than a guess, quite frankly. The issue is that—

Mrs Redmond: We thought it might be an educated guess.

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Heysen to order. The member for Taylor.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I haven't finished yet.

The SPEAKER: The minister hasn't finished, I'm sorry.

Mr Goldsworthy: He hasn't started yet.

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kavel to order. The minister.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: There are a number of reasons why there are people who are in hospitals waiting to be released at home or in care. Just this week, for example, a case was brought to my attention. In that example, the reason the person had not been discharged yet was that we could not find an organisation that could provide the necessary care required for that person. So, there is a whole range of reasons why people need care. The people would be among 21,000 people to whom we provide services, and I am happy to provide the member with more details.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: You've got rather a good run coming up. I don't think you need a supplementary.

Dr McFETRIDGE: I do, sir.

The SPEAKER: The member for Taylor.