❓ Ms. Mettam questions the government's urgency in addressing mental health issues following a tragic death. The Minister defends the government's actions, citing investigations, funding increases, and the complexity of the problem.
AnsweredQoN 65Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTERIAL TASKFORCE INTO PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR INFANTS,CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGED 0–18 YEARS IN WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
65. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Mental Health:
I have a supplementary question. Given the seriousness of
this issue, why is the government not acting with more urgency, and when will
the Savage family have the answers they deserve?
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : One question, member.
SERVICES FOR INFANTS,CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGED 0–18 YEARS IN WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
65. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Mental Health:
I have a supplementary question. Given the seriousness of
this issue, why is the government not acting with more urgency, and when will
the Savage family have the answers they deserve?
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : One question, member.
AnswerView source ↗
This government acted very quickly and, certainly under the
previous minister, requested that the Chief Psychiatrist undertake an investigation into the specific
circumstances surrounding Kate Savage's tragic death and the
significant concerns that her family
had around the treatment and relationship with them as parents. That was a good
investigation that provided really practical recommendations that are in
the process of being implemented now. We have also provided a significant
funding increase to community public mental health services, in particular
youth mental health services and the child and adolescent mental health
service, to allow them to see more young people and their families.
On top of the Chief Psychiatrist's work,
understanding and acknowledging that this is an area that is challenged by an
increase in demand across the world and a shortfall in workforce across the
world, these issues are complex and take time
to work through. If it was a matter of just providing a huge bucket of money to
immediately fix the problem, members can be assured that that is what
would have happened. This is not one of those problems, member for Vasse. This
is a complex and challenging area that I do not expect the member will be able
to fully grapple with.
The task force undertook really thorough work and reform. It
consulted, and people with lived experience informed the recommendations. It
will provide five years of reform, including immediate remediation. That needs
to be put in place when the task force report is announced, and that is what we
are doing. This is a huge amount of work that this government is undertaking. I
am committed to prioritising it, as the Minister for Mental Health. The McGowan
government continues to provide record funding for mental health services in Western
Australia.
previous minister, requested that the Chief Psychiatrist undertake an investigation into the specific
circumstances surrounding Kate Savage's tragic death and the
significant concerns that her family
had around the treatment and relationship with them as parents. That was a good
investigation that provided really practical recommendations that are in
the process of being implemented now. We have also provided a significant
funding increase to community public mental health services, in particular
youth mental health services and the child and adolescent mental health
service, to allow them to see more young people and their families.
On top of the Chief Psychiatrist's work,
understanding and acknowledging that this is an area that is challenged by an
increase in demand across the world and a shortfall in workforce across the
world, these issues are complex and take time
to work through. If it was a matter of just providing a huge bucket of money to
immediately fix the problem, members can be assured that that is what
would have happened. This is not one of those problems, member for Vasse. This
is a complex and challenging area that I do not expect the member will be able
to fully grapple with.
The task force undertook really thorough work and reform. It
consulted, and people with lived experience informed the recommendations. It
will provide five years of reform, including immediate remediation. That needs
to be put in place when the task force report is announced, and that is what we
are doing. This is a huge amount of work that this government is undertaking. I
am committed to prioritising it, as the Minister for Mental Health. The McGowan
government continues to provide record funding for mental health services in Western
Australia.
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