❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding potential budget cuts and job losses within mental health services, citing internal documents. The Minister denies any approved cuts to frontline services, dismissing the documents as preliminary middle management proposals.
AnsweredQoN 783Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH — CUTS TO SERVICES
On 22 September 2009 the minister told Parliament — There has been no directive from the Director General of Health, or from either the Minister for Health or the Minister for Mental Health, for any cuts to front-line services. I refer to an internal memorandum dated 21 September that outlines a 13 per cent budget cut at Fremantle Mental Health Service, as well as the document I am holding up that illustrates the loss of nearly 200 jobs across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service’s mental health division. (1) Does the minister now accept that these documents exist and clearly outline a plan to axe hundreds of jobs in order to meet the government’s budget cuts? (2) How will mental health patient services be affected when 34 positions are cut at Fremantle Hospital alone, as well as 150 others across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service? (3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS
On 22 September 2009 the minister told Parliament — There has been no directive from the Director General of Health, or from either the Minister for Health or the Minister for Mental Health, for any cuts to front-line services. I refer to an internal memorandum dated 21 September that outlines a 13 per cent budget cut at Fremantle Mental Health Service, as well as the document I am holding up that illustrates the loss of nearly 200 jobs across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service’s mental health division. (1) Does the minister now accept that these documents exist and clearly outline a plan to axe hundreds of jobs in order to meet the government’s budget cuts? (2) How will mental health patient services be affected when 34 positions are cut at Fremantle Hospital alone, as well as 150 others across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service? (3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(1) Does the minister now accept that these documents exist and clearly outline a plan to axe hundreds of jobs in order to meet the government’s budget cuts? (2) How will mental health patient services be affected when 34 positions are cut at Fremantle Hospital alone, as well as 150 others across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service? (3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(2) How will mental health patient services be affected when 34 positions are cut at Fremantle Hospital alone, as well as 150 others across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service? (3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(1) Does the minister now accept that these documents exist and clearly outline a plan to axe hundreds of jobs in order to meet the government’s budget cuts? (2) How will mental health patient services be affected when 34 positions are cut at Fremantle Hospital alone, as well as 150 others across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service? (3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(2) How will mental health patient services be affected when 34 positions are cut at Fremantle Hospital alone, as well as 150 others across the South Metropolitan Area Health Service? (3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(3) When will the minister outline to health workers across the state exactly how many jobs this government intends to axe across the WA health service? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
(1)-(3) Governments in Australia and overseas are faced with tight budgets, and this jurisdiction is no exception. It is accurate to say that all WA health services, including mental health services, have been asked to meet their budget without, however, compromising front-line clinical services. The document that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition refers to is a middle management document pertaining to the Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; it is a document which is in the melting pot and which contains suggestions of how these savings can be made. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is it wrong? Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : Absolutely. It is middle management paperwork which is in the melting pot, and which has not come to the director general, the area health manager or me for any decision. Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Department of Health staff have been asked to identify inefficiencies, duplication and priority areas where potential savings can be made. However, for the member to trot out a memo of middle management to suggest that that is my view, the director’s view or the area executive officer’s view is totally wrong. The member for Kwinana is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Several members interjected. Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : He was the member who trotted out a letter that suggested that I had not responded to a constituent—as members would remember—about the effects of Zyprexa. He said that I had not contacted the constituent! I read to him a letter that I had written to Mr Waters. The member for Kwinana said that I had not. He runs off grabbing — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Kwinana, you have asked a question. I expect you want to hear the answer. I would like to hear the answer as well. Minister, I hope you will conclude your remarks fairly shortly. I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
I ask members to my left that, if they do have an interjection, it makes some sense to me so that I can understand it. I am battling to understand interjections at the moment! Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : This government has gone to all the trouble of creating a ministry of mental health and, in fact, putting focus on mental health so that we can look at how we support in the community those unfortunate people in this state who have not got anywhere to live, who do not follow up on their treatments, who do not get three meals a day — Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Are you going guarantee there will be no cuts? Are you going to do that? The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : Let me put some meat on the bones for members opposite when I talk about duplication and inefficiency. The member for Kwinana comes in here, grabs a memo from middle management at Fremantle Hospital and says “That’s what is going to happen. They will cut 34 FTEs from mental health!” Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr R.H. Cook : It’s true, and there’s a lot more to come! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not true, and the member is developing a reputation for being unreliable. Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Make a guarantee! The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I formally call you for the first time. Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Mr J.R. Quigley : That is more than a memo; it is the cat out of a bag! The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
The SPEAKER : Members, many of us are refreshed after a couple of weeks, or perhaps not! Member for Mindarie, I formally call you for the first time as well. Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Minister, I urge you to finish the answer to this question. I would like to progress with question time. I urge you to reach a rapid conclusion. Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : I will, Mr Speaker, if I get the opportunity. Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
Let me be totally clear, member for Kwinana, my statement to the Parliament, both inside and outside this place, and to the press is that cuts to front-line mental health services in WA are not acceptable—despite the opposition’s memo from middle management to this government or to me as the Minister for Mental Health—and will not be approved.
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