❓ Opposition questions the Mental Health Minister about the cost of new office furniture for the Mental Health Commission, contrasting it with funding shortages for mental health services and the Quadriplegic Centre. The Minister defends the expenditure by highlighting the amalgamation of services and the favourable lease agreement.
AnsweredQoN 261Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION — ACCOMMODATION
261. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Mental Health:
I refer to the expenditure on lavish
new offices for the Mental Health Commission. How can the minister justify
spending more than $134 000 for 298 chairs at $450 each, included in the $1.8
million-odd for annual rent each year, when her government cannot find the
money to open desperately needed mental health beds or fix the Quadriplegic
Centre?
261. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Mental Health:
I refer to the expenditure on lavish
new offices for the Mental Health Commission. How can the minister justify
spending more than $134 000 for 298 chairs at $450 each, included in the $1.8
million-odd for annual rent each year, when her government cannot find the
money to open desperately needed mental health beds or fix the Quadriplegic
Centre?
AnswerView source ↗
As I said, my first question spends
a lot of time on refits and chairs rather than people working on their mental
health, but anyway if that is where the opposition wants to spend its time, I am
very happy to spend my time there. The amalgamated services have gone to the
new fit-out. At that place of work we have amalgamated not only the Mental
Health Commission and the Drug and Alcohol Office, but a number of other
agencies also located there. Their involvement keeps the approach to things
very unified. We did have the Drug and Alcohol Office at Field Street where it
obviously did not pay rent, but that building will be sold. I think it is on
the market for about $4 million, which will go into the consolidated account.
We cannot compare apples with oranges. At the same time, there is a higher cost
going into St Georges Terrace, but the negotiated lease is very, very
favourable and it included that complete fit-out, because we went into an
absolutely blank building. As I said, regarding the cost of the chairs, they
need to be of a certain standard, with the cost being $450 for an office chair
of the correct standard.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Complete with training.
Ms
A.R. MITCHELL : I am well aware that any time that I have received a new
chair or someone in my office has received a new chair, we are taught how to
use it most effectively. I call that training and I think that is important,
because otherwise we do not get the best use out of that chair.
a lot of time on refits and chairs rather than people working on their mental
health, but anyway if that is where the opposition wants to spend its time, I am
very happy to spend my time there. The amalgamated services have gone to the
new fit-out. At that place of work we have amalgamated not only the Mental
Health Commission and the Drug and Alcohol Office, but a number of other
agencies also located there. Their involvement keeps the approach to things
very unified. We did have the Drug and Alcohol Office at Field Street where it
obviously did not pay rent, but that building will be sold. I think it is on
the market for about $4 million, which will go into the consolidated account.
We cannot compare apples with oranges. At the same time, there is a higher cost
going into St Georges Terrace, but the negotiated lease is very, very
favourable and it included that complete fit-out, because we went into an
absolutely blank building. As I said, regarding the cost of the chairs, they
need to be of a certain standard, with the cost being $450 for an office chair
of the correct standard.
Mr
R.H. Cook : Complete with training.
Ms
A.R. MITCHELL : I am well aware that any time that I have received a new
chair or someone in my office has received a new chair, we are taught how to
use it most effectively. I call that training and I think that is important,
because otherwise we do not get the best use out of that chair.
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