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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-07 Daily Xml
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SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. E.S. Bourke:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into and report on SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging, with particular reference to—

(a) the importance of high standards of safety and quality in the provision of pathology and imaging services;

(b) the importance of timeliness in the provision of pathology and imaging services and the impact of delayed results on patient outcomes and the broader South Australian health system;

(c) the importance of South Australian-based research and teaching associated with pathology and imaging services;

(d) the importance of access to pathology and medical imaging services in primary health, including the role of SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging in ensuring accessibility of health care and the provision of bulk-billed services;

(e) staff workloads within SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging and the impact of unsafe workloads on staff health and wellbeing and the quality of service provided;

(f) the impact of the 2018 state budget in regard to SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging, including the impact on staff, the quality of service provision, patient outcomes, teaching and research;

(g) the effects of potential privatisation of SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging as foreshadowed in the 2018 state budget, including the impact on staff, the quality of service provision, patient outcomes, teaching and research; and

(h) any other related matters.

2. That standing order 389 be so far suspended as to enable the Chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote only.

3. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.

4. That standing order 396 be suspended to enable strangers to be admitted when the select committee is examining witnesses unless the committee otherwise resolves, but they shall be excluded when the committee is deliberating.

(Continued from 17 October 2018.)

The Hon. C. BONAROS (16:15): I rise to indicate SA-Best support for the motion of the Hon. Emily Bourke. This is something that we consider extremely important. In the context of the previous speech that I just gave, it is one of those issues that we believe needs urgent attention, and therefore warrants an inquiry. There has been some discussion about what that may look like ultimately and, as I understand it today, whether that matter will be put to a vote or whether it will be deferred. I would like to place on the record that SA-Best categorically supports the proposal for an inquiry into SA Pathology but we are willing to listen to the position of the government, particularly in light of the motion which I proposed only yesterday for a broader health inquiry.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (16:16): I indicate up-front that it is my intention to seek the leave of the council to continue my remarks, which would basically mean that the matter would be deferred until the next sitting Wednesday. I have spoken to the mover of the motion and to other honourable members and I understand that my proposal for deferment has the support of a majority of the council. If there is any concern about that course of action, I would suggest some people might indicate.

I would make it clear that the government does not oppose the thrust of the Hon. Emily Bourke's motion. We do not oppose the council looking at SA Pathology issues. I must foreshadow that we would seek to have that inquiry expanded to include the future actions in the context of the previous actions. The former Labor government had the efficiency improvement program, they also had the EPLIS program, they also had the medical imaging outsourcing. Having said that, what the government would like to consider—and I can only say that I am speaking as a minister rather than on behalf of my party room; I need to take it to my party room—is for the issues raised by the Hon. Emily Bourke to be referred to the select committee proposed by the Hon. Connie Bonaros.

The fact of the matter is that whilst I am a frontbencher and the council kindly excuses me from the duty of sitting on committees, the burden falls significantly on other members of the council to carry a heavy load in terms of select committees. So I think it is incumbent upon us to be economical in our deployment of resources and therefore economical in the way that we form committees.

What I would like to discuss with my party room, with the government party room, is first of all whether we support the Connie Bonaros committee, which I expect we will, and whether the issues raised by the Hon. Emily Bourke could be referred to that committee. I appreciate comments from the members of the council that they would not want the SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging issues delayed by a broad inquiry and therefore the matters not coming to the house or the public at an appropriate early opportunity.

I remind members that not just the Transforming Health select committee but also the Select Committee on Families SA, and I seem to recall the joint select committee on electoral matters, all issued interim reports. It would be my intention to seek my party room's support and discuss next Wednesday—in other words, at next earliest opportunity after the Hon. Connie Bonaros' motion has been made available—establishing the select committee on health services proposed by the Hon. Connie Bonaros, and refer SA Pathology and SA Medical Imaging issues to that committee.

Having made that remark, and having no indication from members that I am mistaken in terms of—

Honourable members: You are mistaken.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I am mistaken in terms of support for the motion?

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: If you want to hold it up for a week, you are mistaken about your support for that. We want it to go to a vote today.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: We will go to a vote then. Certainly, I have had indications from members that they do support deferring the motion. I seek leave to conclude.

The PRESIDENT: Is leave granted?

Honourable members: No.

The PRESIDENT: Leave is not granted. Minister, you cannot now move to seek an adjournment, but another member can.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (16:21): I move:

That the debate be adjourned.

The council divided on the motion:

Ayes 9

Noes 8

Majority 1

AYES
Bonaros, C. Darley, J.A. Dawkins, J.S.L.
Hood, D.G.E. Lee, J.S. Lensink, J.M.A.
Pangallo, F. Stephens, T.J. (teller) Wade, S.G.
NOES
Bourke, E.S. (teller) Hanson, J.E. Hunter, I.K.
Maher, K.J. Ngo, T.T. Parnell, M.C.
Pnevmatikos, I. Scriven, C.M.
PAIRS
Lucas, R.I. Franks, T.A. Ridgway, D.W.
Wortley, R.P.

Motion thus carried; debate adjourned.

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