My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Health, David Davis, and it is in relation to the south-west cancer centre implementation study. Mr Davis would recall that in May last year the then Minister for Health, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Daniel Andrews, announced that a study was to be conducted by Victoria’s chief cancer adviser, Bob Thomas, into the feasibility study of a south-west cancer centre. Members of the south-west community have become well accustomed to the member for South-West Coast in the Assembly, Denis Napthine, predictably and constantly from May all the way through to November demanding transparency and time lines and the expected release date on this study.
However, more than 12 months on, and with Dr Napthine now finding himself in government, the feasibility study which was to be made public in February this year has been gathering dust for the last six months, and this government has thus far refused to disclose when the report will be made public.
The information Dr Napthine requested whilst in opposition is the exact information he and this government are keeping from the south-west community. Given that whilst he was an opposition member the member for South-West Coast was so adamant that a time line be made public, it would seem rather peculiar that when asked for the same information Dr Napthine’s response is that he could not disclose when the report would be made public, simply stating, according to the Warrnambool Standard of 20 July this year, that progress was being made.
I ask the minister to inform the house and the people of the south-west of Victoria, firstly, on the time line and the expected release date of the south-west cancer centre implementation study; and, secondly, a clear time line for the delivery of this new service.
