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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-27 Daily Xml
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Disability Services

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding disability. What conversations has the minister or the Department of Human Services had with Minda, which is the state's largest non-government disability service provider, to ensure that clients will be safe and cared for after the sudden departures of Minda staff, including the chief executive, chief operating officer, managers and carers? What impact would a major reduction in the capacity of disability service providers have on our hospital system just as we open to COVID-19 in South Australia?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for her question. I think I need to say at the outset that the line of questioning in the second part of the question is speculative and inappropriate.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Speculative and inappropriate and—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —unnecessarily alarmist.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I cannot hear the minister.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hanson is out of order.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I might add, too, that the behaviour of the shadow minister for human services in this respect has been as disgraceful as it was two years ago in chasing headlines about Minda rather than having any concern for that organisation or for any of its clients.

The state government is in contact with a range of SIL providers on a regular basis. We have also been in contact with Minda itself. I have also been in contact with the federal minister and I understand that the NDIS commission has also been in regular contact with Minda. Beyond that, I am not going to go into the details of any particular discussions that may have taken place.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Conversations across the chamber—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Members of the opposition will remain silent, as will the Minister for Human Services. The Leader of the Opposition is out of order.

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