❓ A parliamentary question regarding a letter from the Mental Health Council to the Premier concerning mental health budget allocations and the government's response. The response confirms receipt and reply, citing the release of a mental health strategy as the reason for the delay and highlighting increased funding.
AnsweredQoN 998Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
On the 18 October 2004 on the 6PR Paul Murray show, Hon Keith Wilson, Chairman of the Mental Health Council of Australia, said to Paul Murray - . . . there’s a letter that the Premier’s had before him for two months from us, asking to justify where that money went, - That is, the amount removed from the mental health budget - and we still haven’t had . . . we haven’t even had the dignity of a reply to that letter. So this government hasn’t been very accountable about the way it’s spent money, especially in health, and especially in mental health, and whether they restored it or not, you know, is yet to be seen, because a lot of the money they’re talking about is money that they have been talking about before, and is not real new money. So he can say that, but he can’t say why he has done this after four years of doing nothing. (1) Did the Premier received a letter from Hon Keith Wilson at or about that time; and, if so, when? (2) Has he replied to it; and, if so, when and will he table a copy of the letter? (3) What was the reason for the delay in replying to the letter? (4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
So this government hasn’t been very accountable about the way it’s spent money, especially in health, and especially in mental health, and whether they restored it or not, you know, is yet to be seen, because a lot of the money they’re talking about is money that they have been talking about before, and is not real new money. So he can say that, but he can’t say why he has done this after four years of doing nothing.
(2) Has he replied to it; and, if so, when and will he table a copy of the letter? (3) What was the reason for the delay in replying to the letter? (4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(3) What was the reason for the delay in replying to the letter? (4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
So this government hasn’t been very accountable about the way it’s spent money, especially in health, and especially in mental health, and whether they restored it or not, you know, is yet to be seen, because a lot of the money they’re talking about is money that they have been talking about before, and is not real new money. So he can say that, but he can’t say why he has done this after four years of doing nothing.
(2) Has he replied to it; and, if so, when and will he table a copy of the letter? (3) What was the reason for the delay in replying to the letter? (4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(3) What was the reason for the delay in replying to the letter? (4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(4) Is the Premier able to - (a) explain any amounts of money returned to the mental health budget; (b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health? (5) Does the Premier now believe that mental health has an allocation that accords with its priority? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(b) deal with the statement by Hon Keith Wilson that some of these amounts are not really new moneys; and (c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(c) give an account of - (i) the money taken from the mental health budget; (ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(ii) that money said to have been returned to the mental health budget; (iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(iii) the areas in which the removed money was used; and (iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
(iv) the reasons for those areas having a greater priority than mental health?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(1) Yes, the letter was received on 13 August 2004. (2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(2) Yes, the response was sent on 14 October 2004. (3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(3)-(4) The delay in responding was to enable the Mental Health Coalition to be aware of the “Western Australia’s Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007”, which was published on the same date as the coalition received its response. (5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
(5) The Government is increasing funding to mental health services to nine per cent of the total health budget. This means that Western Australia will now allocate the highest percentage of funding to mental health within Australia. This allocation better reflects the Government’s commitment to mental health services and the priority it places on ensuring quality mental health services are available to the community.
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