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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-03-05 Daily Xml
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Micro-X

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:55): My question is directed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on innovation in health in South Australia?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his question. South Australia has a proud history of innovation in health, whether it's in research and development or in better ways of operating. Often, this innovation is within the public health system, but often the private sector drives innovation, too, and as a Liberal government we celebrate success wherever we find it. Last month, I had the privilege to see this innovation in practice at Tonsley Park where I visited a South Australian X-ray system manufacturer called Micro-X.

Micro-X employs a significant number of former Holden workers who bring their advanced manufacturing skills to this venture. Micro-X manufactures and exports mobile X-ray carts. With the outbreak of the coronavirus, I learnt that there had been a surge in demand for their product in Asian markets, as they produce a mobile X-ray cart specifically designed for chest X-rays—exactly what is needed in the case of a respiratory infection such as coronavirus. They have been able to scale up production to try to meet this demand and, in doing so, are supporting other South Australians. Two-thirds of the cart is sourced from South Australian business.

The Marshall Liberal government supports health and medical research and technology, and I know my colleague the Minister for Trade and Investment has been working with the industry to encourage the sector as part of the government's Growth State agenda. We support this research and technology because it in turn can support the provision of better health services both here and overseas. As Micro-X demonstrates, this sector is bringing more jobs into South Australia as we export to the world. I congratulate Micro-X and all our South Australian small and medium businesses who are building South Australia's economy while delivering better health care.

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