❓ Opposition questions the government's mental health policy, citing the placement of young offenders in adult facilities and potential harm to children. The Minister defends the government's actions, blaming the previous government's cuts to mental health services.
AnsweredQoN 517Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to Labor’s pre-election mental health policy, which states - There is also need for better inpatient and transitional services for older teenagers and young adults. Frequently they are accommodated in adult settings, which can be totally inappropriate for their needs and chances of recovery. (1) How does the minister reconcile this statement with the fact that teenagers as young as 15 years of age are being locked away at Graylands Hospital’s high-security unit for the criminally insane due to a lack of facilities? (2) Will the minister admit that housing children as young as 13 alongside adult schizophrenic and bipolar patients in other areas of the hospital could do them more harm than good? (3) Will the minister admit that this Government’s failure to provide the promised additional children’s facilities, coupled with its decision to cut community-based programs for youth, will simply result in an even greater crisis in mental health in the future? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
(2) Will the minister admit that housing children as young as 13 alongside adult schizophrenic and bipolar patients in other areas of the hospital could do them more harm than good? (3) Will the minister admit that this Government’s failure to provide the promised additional children’s facilities, coupled with its decision to cut community-based programs for youth, will simply result in an even greater crisis in mental health in the future? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
(3) Will the minister admit that this Government’s failure to provide the promised additional children’s facilities, coupled with its decision to cut community-based programs for youth, will simply result in an even greater crisis in mental health in the future? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
(1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
(2) Will the minister admit that housing children as young as 13 alongside adult schizophrenic and bipolar patients in other areas of the hospital could do them more harm than good? (3) Will the minister admit that this Government’s failure to provide the promised additional children’s facilities, coupled with its decision to cut community-based programs for youth, will simply result in an even greater crisis in mental health in the future? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
(3) Will the minister admit that this Government’s failure to provide the promised additional children’s facilities, coupled with its decision to cut community-based programs for youth, will simply result in an even greater crisis in mental health in the future? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
(1)-(3) The two young offenders, who have both a significant history of offending and a mental health condition, were ordered by the Children’s Court to be taken and detained at the Frankland unit at Graylands Hospital for seven days for assessment. The department has simply complied with a hospital order made under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act as to the place at which they are to be detained for assessment. The Government is not at liberty, and neither is anyone else, to disobey a court order. As the Premier has said repeatedly on this issue, people should not believe what they hear from the Opposition. Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Ms S.E. Walker: Is there anywhere else that the court could have sent them? Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The court ordered that they be sent to the Frankland unit. We have complied with that court order. The member for Mitchell said that they were taken to the Frankland unit because there were no other beds available for them. That is a patent untruth. The whole basis upon which this question was predicated is incorrect. They were required to be taken to the Frankland unit by an order of the court, and we have complied with that order. To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
To the extent that there is a problem today - I acknowledge that there is a problem - with a shortage of mental health beds in the system, we need look no further than the Opposition when it was in government during the 1990s. I will go through the track record of the last Liberal Government in Western Australia. In 1993 there were 728 psychiatric beds in our public hospital system in Western Australia. By 2001, when the previous Government left office, that number had declined to 628. There were 100 fewer mental health beds in the system. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: In case members find that hard to relate to, I will tell them about the record of the Liberal Government in power - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Nedlands to order for the third time. Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1993 the previous Government closed the industrial rehabilitation division. In 1994 it closed Heathcote Hospital, with a loss of 86 beds. In 1995 it closed Hill View Terrace hospital, with a loss of 16 beds. In 1997 it shut Moss Street Lodge, with a loss of 18 beds. In 1999 it shut Lemnos hospital, with a loss of 63 beds from the system. In 2000 Swan District Hospital closed eight beds for the elderly, Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital closed 16 beds for the elderly and Bentley Hospital closed 18 beds for the elderly. That is the record of the Opposition that we have had to pick up and do our best with. There are now more mental health beds in the system than when we came to government three and a half years ago.
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