REPATRIATION GENERAL HOSPITAL

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Is the minister reducing mental health beds at the Repatriation General Hospital and, if so, why? The opposition has been told that the government is removing five beds from Ward 17 at the Repatriation General Hospital. These beds are currently used for post-traumatic stress patients who are mainly Vietnam veterans.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (15:04): I thank the member for his question and I am sure that he has a better knowledge of history than some of those opposite and would not want to be associated with the notion that there were National Socialists in this room.

Mr Hanna: And that it was nothing to worry about.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: And it was nothing to worry about, because I think for some of us we were actually quite shaken by that assertion, because it shows a lack of knowledge of history as well as an insensitivity beyond that which we are used to even from those opposite.

Ms CHAPMAN: On a point of order, the minister is debating an issue—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! We started so well. What happened? The member for Bragg.

Ms CHAPMAN: The minister is not only debating an issue—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the member for Bragg.

Ms CHAPMAN: The minister is debating an issue in relation to a previous ruling that you have given—nothing to do with the question. The question is about the diminution of beds at the Repatriation General Hospital at the expense of Vietnam veterans. It has nothing to do with the National Socialists.

The SPEAKER: The minister for mental health.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: Thank you, sir. I beg to differ. I think many of those veterans would be appalled by the comments made by those opposite, as are those on this side of the chamber. I would ask the member to reflect on what she has just said about those veterans who fought against that whole notion.

The discussion at the Repatriation Hospital relates to the fact that the government has a massive investment and plan to expand mental health facilities in this state. As members would know, our Stepping Up reforms will produce 86 more beds across the system, with a modern emphasis on intermediate care, Stepping Up facilities and rehabilitation, which is a very important change in the way we operate our mental health services.

The bed plan has been released, but there has been no reduction in actual beds. As I said before, 86 more beds are going to be within the system when the whole plan has been implemented. The bed plan has been released and it impacts on the whole service across metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia. Particularly, it has some very important reforms, like having intermediate facilities for when people are recovering or when they are just beginning to show signs of illness, as well as having beds in country areas.

In relation to the Repatriation General Hospital, I understand that those beds are not currently used solely by veterans. They are used by the general population of people needing inpatient services. The plan is to have the Repatriation Hospital beds used predominantly for veterans in that facility, and there will be 86 more beds at the end of the reform process. At the moment, the discussion about the bed plan is taking place in each one of our facilities but, at the end of the day, the plan is to have more beds for more inpatients across the whole service. The consultation about how about that bed plan is produced in the Repatriation Hospital is just beginning, because we have only just released the bed plan.

I understand that, whenever there is a change, there is anxiety. I am very happy to get a briefing for the member so that he can understand how we will achieve 86 more beds in the system and how this massive reform agenda produces more facilities for people with mental illness. When he sees the entirety of the plan, he will understand that, far from reducing beds, we are actually increasing them.