❓ Question regarding the government's priority in establishing declared places for people with severe mental illness, particularly in relation to those found unfit to plead and current placement options. The Minister deflects part of the question and reaffirms commitment to mental health services.
AnsweredQoN 328Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH — DECLARED PLACE
328. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the Minister for Mental
Health's advice to this house in August 2012 that the government did
not regard the establishment of a declared place for people with a severe and
persistent mental illness as a priority.
(1) How many
people have been found unfit to plead on the basis of mental illness alone
since 2009?
(2) How many of
these people remain in prison today?
(3) What other
placement options are available to people determined unfit to plead on the
basis of mental illness alone?
(4) Does the
establishment of a declared place for people with a severe and persistent
mental illness remain a low priority for the government?
328. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the Minister for Mental
Health's advice to this house in August 2012 that the government did
not regard the establishment of a declared place for people with a severe and
persistent mental illness as a priority.
(1) How many
people have been found unfit to plead on the basis of mental illness alone
since 2009?
(2) How many of
these people remain in prison today?
(3) What other
placement options are available to people determined unfit to plead on the
basis of mental illness alone?
(4) Does the
establishment of a declared place for people with a severe and persistent
mental illness remain a low priority for the government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(3)
I advise the honourable member that these questions should be directed to the
Attorney General.
(4) The commitment
to provide services for people with severe and persistent mental illness is a
high priority of this government. As I stated in question on notice 5727 last
year —
The
Government's priority at this stage is to establish declared places for
people with an intellectual or cognitive disability who have been accused, but
not convicted, of a crime. This is prioritised because no alternatives to
prison currently exist for this small group
This in no way
means that a declared place for mentally ill people is a low priority.
The government's commitment
to people with severe and persistent mental illness is demonstrated through the
recent establishment, in March this year, of the mental health court diversion
and support pilot program. This program includes a specialist court known as
START Court—the Specialist Treatment and Referral Team—which
offers mental health assessment and support as well as advice to the court.
A similar program known as Links is
available for children with a mental illness. These programs clearly
demonstrate a commitment to ensuring people with severe mental illness who come
into contact with the justice system are provided early intervention and
appropriate support to ensure they achieve the best outcome possible.
member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(3)
I advise the honourable member that these questions should be directed to the
Attorney General.
(4) The commitment
to provide services for people with severe and persistent mental illness is a
high priority of this government. As I stated in question on notice 5727 last
year —
The
Government's priority at this stage is to establish declared places for
people with an intellectual or cognitive disability who have been accused, but
not convicted, of a crime. This is prioritised because no alternatives to
prison currently exist for this small group
This in no way
means that a declared place for mentally ill people is a low priority.
The government's commitment
to people with severe and persistent mental illness is demonstrated through the
recent establishment, in March this year, of the mental health court diversion
and support pilot program. This program includes a specialist court known as
START Court—the Specialist Treatment and Referral Team—which
offers mental health assessment and support as well as advice to the court.
A similar program known as Links is
available for children with a mental illness. These programs clearly
demonstrate a commitment to ensuring people with severe mental illness who come
into contact with the justice system are provided early intervention and
appropriate support to ensure they achieve the best outcome possible.
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