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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-06-16 Daily Xml
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Operation Flinders

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (15:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing about paramedics.

Leave granted.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: The SA Ambulance Service has supported Operation Flinders for decades by paramedics participating in providing medical cover for the program, a program which I believe the Hon. John Dawkins has highlighted a number of times in this chamber.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Not just more than once, that's right. I think you are an honorary member or something like that.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Dawkins, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Ms Bourke, just stop.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: This year, SA Ambulance Service has informed paramedics they will no longer be subsidising paramedics supporting Operation Flinders, and that paramedics would need to do it in their own time. This puts additional pressure on those paramedics and puts the important program for at-risk youth in jeopardy. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why is the government cutting support for paramedics to participate in Operation Flinders?

2. Was the decision to cut support based purely on saving measures, or does the government no longer support the decade-long collaboration with Operation Flinders?

3. Will the budget dedicated to Operation Flinders be reallocated to support other community engagement programs?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for her question. It is clearly an operational matter—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —and I will seek advice from the agency.

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