A petition led by Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes calling for radiotherapy services in the South East is likely to trigger an SA Parliamentary review.

Under SA Parliament regulations, such a review involves an investigation by a Legislative Review Committee.

The committee then reports back to both the Legislative Council, and the House of Assembly.

The responsible minister of each House is then required to table a response and make a statement outlining what, if any, action is to be taken in relation to the petition.

Mr Haynes said copies of the petition were still available for signing in most leading businesses around the region.

The petition follows a $4.3m federal allocation won by Member for Barker Tony Pasin for a machine to provide radiotherapy services in the South East.

But the State Government dismissed the need for such a service in a letter dated January 30 this year.

In the letter Health Minister Chris Picton cited advice from the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.

Mr Haynes was recently elected as the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Party chairman.

Mr Haynes, who is also vice-chairman of the SA Liberal Party, said more than 11,000 people have signed the petition so far.

“Of those, more than 7000 have physically signed a hard copy of the petition, and a further 4000 have signed the on-line petition,” Mr Haynes said.

“We really want to get 10,000 signatures on a hard copy, because that will trigger a review.

“So if anyone has signed on line, please sign again on a hard copy,” Mr Haynes said.

A single petition with over 10,000 signatures must be referred to the Legislative Review Committee for investigation.

Mr Haynes said so many people were signing the petition because either they or a friend or relative had been forced to go and live in Adelaide or interstate for treatment.

While treatment might be only a short time each day, it had to be done daily meaning people were forced to live away from home for weeks and months at a time.

Mr Haynes praised Opposition leader David Speirs for meeting with the working group and offering his support in the lead up to the SE Field Days.

At the field days, Mr Haynes said he was kept busy on a stand for the Liberal Party, with most people telling him they had already signed the petition.

But he still gained a further 700 signatures.

Mr Haynes praised Member for Barker Tony Pasin for showing initiative and gaining the $4.3m of federal funding for the machine in the first place.

Meanwhile, Mr Pasin slammed the state government for failing to meet with the working party claiming it showed their disrespect for the South East community.

“Separate meeting requests have been made to Minister Chris Picton MP and Premier Peter Malinauskas MP, with neither showing any willingness to meet,” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin recently forwarded to The [Naracoorte Community] News a copy of his letter dated February 3, requesting the Health Minister meet with the radiation treatment working party in the region at his convenience.

“To date no response to this meeting request has been received from the minister,” Mr Pasin said.

“I find it incredibly insulting that the minister can’t even find the time to respond let alone meet.”

Mr Haynes had written to Premier Peter Malinauskas on March 6, 2023 also requesting a meeting with the group and received a reply saying the Premier was unable to meet with the group.

“Premier Malinauskas visited Mount Gambier before and immediately after the State election last year, telling the people of the Limestone Coast that the region played a key role in the economic and social fabric of our state and promising to put an end to the State Government neglect of the region,” Mr Pasin said.

“As the Premier quite rightly stated 12 months ago, he is ultimately responsible for what his government does going forward. How about listening to the community and making their voices count?

“For a State Government still attempting to make up for past mistakes in this region, his refusal to even speak to the community about an issue that has attracted well over 10,000 signatures is simply astounding.”

So far the Radiation Treatment Working Party has met with Shadow Health Minister Ashton Hurn, Shadow Regional Health Services Minister Penny Pratt and Opposition Leader David Spiers.

The working party hopes to meet with the Limestone Coast Local Health Network next month.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.