❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister representing the Minister for Mental Health regarding WorkSafe improvement notices issued to the Mental Health Commission due to bullying allegations and unsafe work practices. The Minister responds by highlighting the Commission's commitment to addressing these issues and increased funding for mental health services.
AnsweredQoN 823Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION — IMPROVEMENT
NOTICES — WORKSAFE
823. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the minister
representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to improvement notices
issued by WorkSafe against the Mental Health Commission.
(1) Does the
minister agree that it is deeply concerning that the government agency
responsible for mental health policy has been issued with WorkSafe improvement
notices due to bullying and for putting the health of workers at risk?
(2) How can the
public have confidence that the commission is looking after the needs of Western
Australians with mental illness when it is not looking after the mental health
of its own staff?
(3) Are the
recent Barnett government cuts to the mental health budget increasing the
levels of stress in the agency and adding to the pressures faced by staff?
(4) Will the
minister commit to ensuring that unsafe work practices at the commission are
stamped out?
NOTICES — WORKSAFE
823. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the minister
representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to improvement notices
issued by WorkSafe against the Mental Health Commission.
(1) Does the
minister agree that it is deeply concerning that the government agency
responsible for mental health policy has been issued with WorkSafe improvement
notices due to bullying and for putting the health of workers at risk?
(2) How can the
public have confidence that the commission is looking after the needs of Western
Australians with mental illness when it is not looking after the mental health
of its own staff?
(3) Are the
recent Barnett government cuts to the mental health budget increasing the
levels of stress in the agency and adding to the pressures faced by staff?
(4) Will the
minister commit to ensuring that unsafe work practices at the commission are
stamped out?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) The Minister for
Mental Health is concerned about bullying allegations at any workplace. The
Mental Health Commission has also advised that it takes all allegations of
bullying and grievances relating to work practices very seriously. The Mental
Health Commission has advised that it continues to collaborate with WorkSafe to
implement recommendations that were recently made to continue to improve
communication about anti-bullying and grievance-resolution processes. The
Mental Health Commission has advised that there has been no substantiation of
any bullying claims by WorkSafe.
(2) The Mental
Health Commission has advised that it has a code of conduct, a prevention of
bullying in the workplace policy and guidelines to support its grievance
management policy. In addition to these, the Mental Health Commission engages
an employee assistance program provider, has three mental health first-aid
officers in the organisation and it has implemented a healthy workplace
strategy that includes a wellness program.
(3) The Barnett
government is investing a record amount in mental health services, with $865.8 million
being allocated in the 2016–17 budget—an increase of 83.9 per
cent compared with the 2008–09 budget. That is when members opposite
were in government.
Hon
Stephen Dawson : You've
cut the budget this year.
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER : That is
when Labor was in government .
Hon
Stephen Dawson : You've
cut the budget this year.
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER : It was 83.9
per cent, just in case the member did not hear it.
Hon Stephen Dawson interjected.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : The government has allocated —
Several members interjected.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : Members opposite do not like to hear it,
do they? The answer continues —
T he government has allocated more to the Mental Health Commission
in the 2016–17 budget compared with the 2015–16 budget.
(4) The
minister is committed to ensuring that all agencies within her portfolio
provide a safe working environment. The Mental Health Commission has also
advised that it is committed to providing a safe working environment for all of
its employees. It takes all allegations of bullying and grievances relating to
work practices seriously and continues to promote a number of policies that
address appropriate workplace behaviour. The commission has advised that these
are readily available and are regularly communicated to staff.
of the question.
(1) The Minister for
Mental Health is concerned about bullying allegations at any workplace. The
Mental Health Commission has also advised that it takes all allegations of
bullying and grievances relating to work practices very seriously. The Mental
Health Commission has advised that it continues to collaborate with WorkSafe to
implement recommendations that were recently made to continue to improve
communication about anti-bullying and grievance-resolution processes. The
Mental Health Commission has advised that there has been no substantiation of
any bullying claims by WorkSafe.
(2) The Mental
Health Commission has advised that it has a code of conduct, a prevention of
bullying in the workplace policy and guidelines to support its grievance
management policy. In addition to these, the Mental Health Commission engages
an employee assistance program provider, has three mental health first-aid
officers in the organisation and it has implemented a healthy workplace
strategy that includes a wellness program.
(3) The Barnett
government is investing a record amount in mental health services, with $865.8 million
being allocated in the 2016–17 budget—an increase of 83.9 per
cent compared with the 2008–09 budget. That is when members opposite
were in government.
Hon
Stephen Dawson : You've
cut the budget this year.
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER : That is
when Labor was in government .
Hon
Stephen Dawson : You've
cut the budget this year.
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER : It was 83.9
per cent, just in case the member did not hear it.
Hon Stephen Dawson interjected.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : The government has allocated —
Several members interjected.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : Members opposite do not like to hear it,
do they? The answer continues —
T he government has allocated more to the Mental Health Commission
in the 2016–17 budget compared with the 2015–16 budget.
(4) The
minister is committed to ensuring that all agencies within her portfolio
provide a safe working environment. The Mental Health Commission has also
advised that it is committed to providing a safe working environment for all of
its employees. It takes all allegations of bullying and grievances relating to
work practices seriously and continues to promote a number of policies that
address appropriate workplace behaviour. The commission has advised that these
are readily available and are regularly communicated to staff.
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