President’s update: Budget verdict, abortion legislation, sleeping rough
In this week’s President’s update, A/Prof Peter Subramaniam gives his verdict on the State Budget, outlines AMA SA’s position on the Termination of Pregnancy Bill and explains why he’s sleeping rough tonight.
When I wrote my last President’s update, I was about to head into the state Budget lock-up. As you will have seen in the weeks since, the Treasurer announced record health spending – $45.4 billion committed over four years.
While this level of investment is welcome and reflects growing demand on the system, the Budget falls short where it matters most – community care. Funding directed towards general practice and community-based mental health remains piecemeal and lacks the scale needed to ease system-wide pressure.
As I said in my media commentary on the day, without stronger investment in preventive and community-based care, we will continue to see the same pressures play out in our hospitals – including ramping and bed block – with clinicians working in a system stretched beyond what it was designed to handle.
If you’d like to read more, I take a closer look at where the Budget falls short in the latest edition of medicSA.
Termination of Pregnancy Legislation
This week South Australia’s Parliament considered the Termination of Pregnancy (Restrictions on Terminations After 24 Weeks and 6 Days) Amendment Bill 2026. AMA SA’s position is clear and consistent: termination of pregnancy is healthcare, and decisions late in pregnancy – rare, clinically complex and faced only in the gravest circumstances – belong with a woman and her treating doctors, within the safeguards the current Act already provides.
We were concerned that narrowing the lawful grounds to a single test of saving the woman’s life would separate a woman’s life from her health, set aside that mental health is health and risk dangerous delay in time-critical care. We also acknowledge the deeply held differing views across our profession and community, and our continued support for conscientious objection alongside a doctor’s duty never to abandon a patient. At the time of writing, Parliament has voted against the amendments and the current Act stands.
Meeting with Minister Chris Picton
This week I met with the Hon Chris Picton MP — former Health Minister, now Minister for State Development and Artificial Intelligence and Veterans Affairs, among his new portfolios. It was good to see the Minister again and to discuss issues other than ambulance ramping. I want to acknowledge the courage Minister Picton showed in speaking to the parliamentary condolence motion for his brother, Tim, who died in tragic circumstances last year; AMA SA again extends its sympathy to the Picton family.
We discussed AMA SA’s work, with intensive care and DonateLife SA colleagues, to lift organ donation rates and what potential reforms may be considered to address the coronial barriers now before the ALRC’s human tissue review to achieve this. Drawing on his new portfolio, we also explored how AI and data analytics can show clearly where our health system stands and where clinician-led reform can take it.
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Tonight, AMA SA CEO Simon Jones and I will be joining the Vinnies CEO Sleepout at Adelaide Zoo to support the charity’s vital work and highlight the connection between homelessness and health.
For many people, poor health – whether due to mental illness, chronic disease or disability – can contribute to housing insecurity. Once stable housing is lost, those challenges are only made worse.
So tonight, as temperatures drop and we settle in for the night, I’ll be thinking about the many South Australians who live with this reality every day, and the need for a system that delivers equitable care regardless of whether someone has a fixed address.
King’s Birthday Honours
Finally, I would like to congratulate two long-standing AMA SA members recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.
Dr Helen Roxburgh AM has been recognised for her service to general practice, particularly in women’s health. A long-standing GP and Practice Principal at Belair Medical, she has dedicated her career to advancing women’s health, supporting female doctors and providing care to both metropolitan and remote communities.
Dr Lachlan Warren AM has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to dermatology. From his early years in rural general practice through to two decades leading the Dermatology Unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Dr Warren has been a strong advocate for improving access to care, particularly for regional and vulnerable communities.
Both exemplify the very best of our profession, and their recognition is richly deserved.
I’m always eager to hear from you. Please contact me at president@amasa.org.au