Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-18 Daily Xml

Contents

Premature Babies

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:26): How does the minister justify his argument that he has just given the chamber, that centralised service provision by Red Cross for a milk bank is of great benefit whilst other jurisdictions have institutional-based services, which is exactly opposite to his arguments today in the chamber when it comes to a centralised funding model for Community Health Association and SHine SA? Rather, we should decentralise these services, he says, because that's a great idea to fund them through health networks. Two diametrically opposed arguments.

The PRESIDENT: Hon. Mr Hunter, you've asked your question. Minister.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:26): I thank the honourable member for his question. I'm more than happy to stand up for preterm babies. In terms of horses for courses, the blood service has been a huge success through a coordinated national response. At this stage, the milk bank, as I understand it, is only going to be a state-based response, but New South Wales is starting this milk bank service in the near future so there may well be opportunities to share across the states. The fact of the matter is that we will develop service networks that are relevant to the health service involved. When it comes to blood donations and milk bank donations, I'm more than happy to support preterm babies right across the state, even right across the nation.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter, we've finished question time now.