House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-11-11 Daily Xml

Contents

Hospital Staff, Safety

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Health. How many criminal charges have been laid in relation to assaults on hospital staff since the laws were tightened last year?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:33): I'm happy to get a report but certainly I can say, from my point of view, that I have not been satisfied with some of the action that has been taken against alleged offenders by our courts. I will speak to the Attorney-General about this particular issue but, from my point of view, attacks and assaults on our emergency services workers, whether they be doctors and nurses in our hospitals or ambulance workers, are completely reprehensible. To commit an assault against someone who has committed their life to serving our community is absolutely disgusting. If we need to revisit the legislation with regard to assaults on emergency services workers then we will.