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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-11-18 Daily Xml
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Health Review

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister update the house on what the feedback has been from his federal counterparts on the government's Transforming Health program?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:24): I can indeed, and I thank the member for Torrens for her question. The goal of delivering best care, first time, every time, has been met with overwhelming support. Transforming Health is focused on improving the quality and consistency of our hospital system and ensuring that we use our resources in the most effective way.

This requires many changes to the way our hospital systems are set up so that we can meet all the quality standards that were developed last year by our clinicians. Mr Angus Taylor is the Liberal Party member for Hume in the commonwealth parliament. He wrote recently about Australia's healthcare system, and regarding acute bed numbers he said:

It might seem paradoxical that lower bed numbers is a good thing, but it means that we are keeping people out of hospital.

The member for Hume cites—

Dr McFetridge interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It's great to hear the member for Morphett disagreeing with his federal counterpart; I will have a little bit more to say about that. The member for Hume cites a recent review of hip and knee replacements which showed Australia has the longest stay among peers at 60 per cent more than average. He also commented on, and I quote:

…huge variation across regions which can't be explained by demographics. For instance, there is a sevenfold difference across Australia in admission rates for procedures such as cardiac catheterisation and knee replacements.

Members may recall that discussion papers, released as part of Transforming Health last year and earlier this year, talked about these same problems in the health system and what we could do to fix them. The member for Hume has also called for more innovative models in Australia, which means he says, and I quote, 'Consolidating—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order, Mr Speaker. By the minister's definition, he is referring to Angus Taylor's website and directly quoting a speech that Angus Taylor made that is publicly available information.

The SPEAKER: In the course of my day, I normally wouldn't go to the website of the member for the federal division of Hume, so I would hardly describe that as 'a readily accessible source'. Minister.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The member for Hume has also called for more innovative models in Australia, which means, he says, and I quote:

…consolidating high complexity procedures into centres of excellence. It will require highly efficient centres of routine elective surgeries like cataract surgery and knee replacements.

In short, the member for Hume recommends those same changes across the country that we are implementing here. Indeed, he acknowledges the work we are doing. He says:

Some states are beginning to address this. South Australia is pursuing a 'transforming health' program to deliver 'right first time, every time care—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The minister will be seated. Time on.

Mr KNOLL: Now that I have emailed it to your inbox, Mr Speaker, will you concede that it is 'readily available information'?

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned for a bogus point of order, my having ruled on that a minute ago.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Last week, I hosted the COAG Health Council meeting here in Adelaide, made up of state health ministers, both Labor and Liberal, and the federal Minister for Health, Sussan Ley. The meeting included a presentation by Professor Dorothy Keefe, the Clinical Ambassador for Transforming Health. Following Professor Keefe's presentation, minister Ley commented that hearing these plans and achievements was 'music' to her ears.

Those opposite have been vocal in their misinformed criticisms of Transforming Health. Clearly, some of their federal Liberal colleagues are far more enlightened. If Liberal members of the federal parliament, including the federal Minister for Health and the member for Hume, can see the need for change within our health system, then I hope that those opposite might listen to their federal counterparts on this issue, cease their carping negativity and start contributing in a positive way to these reforms.

The SPEAKER: Minister, that was debate. The member for Unley.

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