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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
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ENTERPRISE PATIENT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:05): My question is again to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What process was undertaken in appointing Mr Michael Long to his $3,000 a day position as Program Director for eHealth?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:05): There was an international search conducted because, of course, people with Mr Long's skills are very rare. We do not have those skills readily available, so an international search was conducted. I can get more information to the member for Morphett about who was engaged as part of that international search in order to find him, but can I say that, when we are talking about EPAS, it is an incredibly important project and a project where he is doing an excellent job, an absolutely astounding job, and the state of South Australia is incredibly fortunate to have someone of Mr Long's skills engaged in that position. We are extremely fortunate. The thing about EPAS—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Sir, I have received two warnings today and been threatened with expulsion and yet every answer I have given I have had to put up with a cacophony of interjections from the opposition. They have tried to shout me down every time I have tried to make a point. Every point I have tried to make, the Leader of the Opposition and the opposition—because they are not interested in the facts—have attempted to shout me down.

The SPEAKER: Life is tough on the front bench, isn't it? Is the minister finished?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: No, sir. Can I say, when we are talking about EPAS and the rollout of new patient administration technology through all our metropolitan health sites, the risks in such a project are of course enormous. When you are talking about an information system that controls people's medications, it controls their treatments—

Dr McFetridge: Patients are at risk?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Yes, indeed, patients are at risk, and that is why, with any new technology, we need someone of Mr Long's skills looking after these IT projects. I have enormous confidence in him, and I do not resile for a minute from the fact that, with someone of such significant skills, of course that comes at a price. I do not regret that for a moment.

The SPEAKER: Je ne regrette rien.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens reminds me that English is the language of the parliament. He is, of course, right.

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