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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-19 Daily Xml
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Question Time

AIDS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:09): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the minister representing the Minister for Health on the subject of the AIDS Council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Earlier last week, there was a brief press report about a special general meeting held last Tuesday of the AIDS Council of South Australia. It was reported that the entire board had resigned at the meeting on Tuesday night and that a $200,000 deficit in the operations of the council had been reported on a state funding base of $1.2 million per year. SA Health was quoted as saying they were seeking further information.

I have been advised that, as long ago as September of last year, it was clear that the AIDS Council was facing a $90,000 deficit on this year's operations. I am also advised that the AIDS Council had previously set up a commercial enterprise amidst some criticism about the purpose of the enterprise and the viability of the enterprise, and that this commercial enterprise was established to provide a range of services including printing services, research, training and development, and consultancy services.

I am further advised that, at the special general meeting last Tuesday evening, the auditor for the AIDS Council was asked by one of the members present, 'Are you telling us we are insolvent?' and I am advised that the auditor's response to that question was, 'Technically, yes.' I am not sure what the difference between a technical insolvency and insolvency actually is, but perhaps the AIDS Council, SA Health and the minister can advise this chamber. My questions to the minister are:

1. Did the auditor of the AIDS Council advise SA Health that the AIDS Council was trading insolvent and, if so, when was that advice provided?

2. During the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13, has SA Health been advised that the AIDS Council was running a deficit and, if so, when was SA Health advised of that and what was the level of the deficit they were advised of?

3. What action, if any, did SA Health take before the special general meeting held last Tuesday evening to ensure that the AIDS Council was operating lawfully?

4. What action is SA Health now taking after the special general meeting to ensure that the AIDS Council resolves its deficit problem, and will there be any impact on the delivery of existing services?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am advised that the AIDS Council of South Australia has been funded by the department and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network since the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus in the 1980s.

The council has continued to provide peer support and prevention programs for vulnerable members of the community since then. The provision of clean needle program services reduces the spread of blood-borne viruses amongst injecting drug users which benefits the community as a whole, and that is a service also provided by the council.

The South Australian Voice for IV Education program, also administered by the council, I am advised, provides injecting drug users with referrals to drug treatment and other health and welfare services, information and education on blood-borne virus prevention and a range of support and advocacy services. I understand that the program is a very important point of contact for the highly marginalised population of injecting drug users, many of whom have never been in regular contact with health or social services.

I am further advised that SA Health is undertaking a review of the human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C funding and service plan for non-government services which incorporates the South Australian human immunodeficiency virus, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections prevention program awarded to the AIDS Council of South Australia in 2009-10. I am further advised that the review will incorporate current epidemiology research policy to determine priorities and funding allocations for human immunodeficiency virus and hep C prevention programs over the next period, and I am also advised that the review of the HIV and hepatitis C funding and service plan for non-government services will be completed midyear.

I have also received advice that the AIDS Council of South Australia receives $1.227 million in grant funding from the Department for Health and Ageing for the targeted human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmissible infections prevention program. This includes funding for the Sex Industry Network project and other prevention services I have just outlined. The AIDS Council of South Australia will also receive $554,000 in 2012-13 in grant funding from the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network to provide other programs, which I have also just outlined.

I have been advised that the AIDS Council of South Australia reported a budget deficit to the department in a letter dated 6 March 2013 in response to the department's request to submit an overdue mid-year financial report. The department will seek an audited financial report for this period and an explanation for the reported budget deficit. The department will also seek guarantees from the AIDS Council of South Australia that HIV, sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne virus prevention programs to the South Australian community will not be impacted by the reported deficit.

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