❓ Ms. Farrer questions the lack of methamphetamine rehabilitation beds in the Kimberley, despite the Minister's announcement of 32 regional beds. The Minister responds that no bids were received from the Kimberley and that alcohol is the larger problem in the region.
AnsweredQoN 907Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METHAMPHETAMINE
— REHABILITATION BEDS — KIMBERLEY
907. Ms J. FARRER to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the Minister for Mental Health's
announcement for 32 regional residential rehabilitation beds to treat
methamphetamine use.
(1) Why was
not one of these rehabilitation beds located in the Kimberley?
(2) Why has
the Kimberley's methamphetamine problem been judged to be not as
important as other regions?
— REHABILITATION BEDS — KIMBERLEY
907. Ms J. FARRER to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the Minister for Mental Health's
announcement for 32 regional residential rehabilitation beds to treat
methamphetamine use.
(1) Why was
not one of these rehabilitation beds located in the Kimberley?
(2) Why has
the Kimberley's methamphetamine problem been judged to be not as
important as other regions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley for the question. I am
pleased to respond to her question.
(1)–(2)
The opportunity for organisations to bid for rehabilitation beds was open to
absolutely everyone throughout the state and not one application was received
from the Kimberley region, which is always disappointing. However, at the same
time, everyone was given a chance to bid and therefore that is where it was. At
the same time, throughout Western Australia, the Mental Health Commission has a
very good idea of where the key needs are —
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member!
Ms A.R. MITCHELL : There is a good understanding of
where those needs are. In the Kimberley at the moment, yes, there is an issue
with meth, but by far and above the largest problem is still with alcohol.
Therefore, we have got other things going into the Kimberley. There are beds in
the Kimberley already, albeit funded through the commonwealth. Services are
available in the Kimberley, but at the same time our biggest issue in the
Kimberley is with alcohol, which we are focusing largely on. There are services
and rehabilitation beds in the Kimberley, and we do not duplicate funding. We
make sure that we have a balance of services throughout the Kimberley—in
fact, everywhere. We do not do the same thing that the commonwealth has done;
we manage our resources as best we can to suit. At the same time, we are making
sure that we have a step up, step down facility being designed, ready for
construction, soon in Broome. Extra compulsory alcohol and drug coordinators
have gone into the Kimberley in the last couple of months. The Kimberley is
being serviced, but it did not receive any additional rehabilitation beds in
that last round.
pleased to respond to her question.
(1)–(2)
The opportunity for organisations to bid for rehabilitation beds was open to
absolutely everyone throughout the state and not one application was received
from the Kimberley region, which is always disappointing. However, at the same
time, everyone was given a chance to bid and therefore that is where it was. At
the same time, throughout Western Australia, the Mental Health Commission has a
very good idea of where the key needs are —
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member!
Ms A.R. MITCHELL : There is a good understanding of
where those needs are. In the Kimberley at the moment, yes, there is an issue
with meth, but by far and above the largest problem is still with alcohol.
Therefore, we have got other things going into the Kimberley. There are beds in
the Kimberley already, albeit funded through the commonwealth. Services are
available in the Kimberley, but at the same time our biggest issue in the
Kimberley is with alcohol, which we are focusing largely on. There are services
and rehabilitation beds in the Kimberley, and we do not duplicate funding. We
make sure that we have a balance of services throughout the Kimberley—in
fact, everywhere. We do not do the same thing that the commonwealth has done;
we manage our resources as best we can to suit. At the same time, we are making
sure that we have a step up, step down facility being designed, ready for
construction, soon in Broome. Extra compulsory alcohol and drug coordinators
have gone into the Kimberley in the last couple of months. The Kimberley is
being serviced, but it did not receive any additional rehabilitation beds in
that last round.
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