South Australian Government takes control of proton unit at Bragg Centre

The South Australian government will take direct control of a major proton therapy unit that advocates hope will deliver lifesaving treatment at home.

Adelaide’s $500 million Bragg Centre was meant to offer world-class proton beam therapy, a technology that precisely targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

But the project collapsed after a dispute with supplier ProTom, despite hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars being committed to the project.

In a landmark development, Adelaide University will bail out the SA Health and Medical Research Institute, while the empty Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research will be handed to the state government.

The takeover was welcomed by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler on Friday.

“I think that’s a good thing,” Butler told 7NEWS.

“This is a significant treatment, it should be operated by a state health system, in my view.”

But there are still obstacles to overcome — one being that the bunker was purpose-built for a machine that can’t be delivered and will require a huge renovation.

When asked if the bunker could be adjusted, SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said “probably, but it would be very expensive”.

As first revealed by 7NEWS, Canberra is considering proton therapy unit proposals from both Adelaide and Melbourne.

Koutsantonis conceded the new shakeup does little to strengthen Adelaide’s bid.

“Do we have any guarantees? No, we do not,” Koutsantonis said.

“Will we subsidise it? No we won’t. This is a national service.”

There is no commitment from Canberra either.

“It would be a significant budget decision having lost all that money on the original proposal,” Butler said.

The restructure clears up who controls the Adelaide project but not when proton therapy will actually be delivered.

There is still no funding decision, still no timeframe and families with sick children are still left waiting.

7NEWS has reported extensively on the proton therapy saga, speaking with families forced to travel overseas to access the life saving treatment and those pushing governments to finally deliver a solution.