Health Minister Chris Picton has defended his department’s decision to employ two salaried doctors in this region at yearly salaries of around $700,000 each.


Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride quizzed the minister in the House of Assembly last week.


He quoted figures from the Limestone Coast Local Health Network in the 2023/24 report of the Auditor-General.


Mr McBride said the two staff members were being paid between $686,000 and $726,000 per annum and four other staff are being paid between $446,000 and $486,000.


“Can the minister explain what these roles are that are paying that amount and where are they based?” Mr McBride asked.


In reply, Minister Picton said South Australian has incredibly hardworking and talented medical professionals.


He said the additional staffing information sought by Mr McBride would be researched and supplied to him.


“I suspect that what has happened on the Limestone Coast is that we have employed more senior doctors, and those more senior doctors come at a significant salary rate compared to other staff in the system,” Minister Picton said.


“In many cases the alternative is having to employ locums.


“It is much better in many regards for us to employ those people as salaried doctors in the system.


“That may well be full credit to the Limestone Coast Health Network that has been able to employ and recruit more of those senior clinicians to work directly for the health system, rather than relying upon locum arrangements.”