DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICES

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. What changes are being made to the provision of drug treatment services in South Australia?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (14:35): I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her interest in this area. It is actually a very timely question, given the debate that seems to be starting nationally about how we manage drug treatment in Australia and whether or not the legal system, or the health system, is the right place to deal with some of these issues.

I am pleased to let the house know that 14 non-government organisations are being offered funds to provide a range of drug treatment services to South Australians from 1 July this year for the next three years. A competitive open tender process has been conducted over the past six months to determine the allocation of more than $6.86 million in state and commonwealth funds in 2012-13, and indexed following that. This funding pool offers non-government services for the police drug diversion initiative of about $1.9 million in 2012-13, and treatment services, through the Drug and Alcohol Services program, of about $4.9 million in the same time.

The tender evaluation panel included people with clinical expertise in drug treatment, non-government contract management, drug and alcohol policy procurement, and harm minimisation programs. They received more than 30 submissions, and some organisations that previously provided these services in South Australia were not successful in winning ongoing funds, and I acknowledge that they are perhaps disappointed by that.

While funding to some services will cease on 30 June, the total funding pit available remains unchanged, and there is no reduction in funding; however, a greater proportion of these funds will be allocated to the non-government sector from 1 July, subject to signed service agreements. Sobering up services across South Australia will increase their opening hours as a result of this arrangement to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide shelter, support, and non-medical detoxification to people affected by alcohol and/or other drugs.

There will be approximately a 15 per cent increase in the number of appointments offered under the police drug diversion initiative, and this initiative allows people detected for minor and simple drug possession to be diverted from the criminal justice system into education, assessment and treatment. Youth residential rehabilitation beds will be introduced for the very first time to help young people overcome substance misuse. Residential rehab beds will be located in areas of high need.

Non-residential rehab services will be introduced in metropolitan and regional areas to reach a greater number of clients. Counselling sessions will be delivered through metropolitan Adelaide and in targeted regional areas as well. Additionally, the funded agencies have demonstrated a strong capacity to provide high-quality services to the Aboriginal community.

I am aware that DrugBeat has expressed some concern about being unsuccessful in the tender process. Officers from Drug and Alcohol Services will meet with representatives of this organisation, and any others that were not successful, to go through their application. The tender evaluation panel considered the service mix, value for money and the location of services across the state. I am advised the quality of tenders was very high and, as with all tender processes, determinations were made to decide which organisations can deliver the best services at the best value for the state, and I am confident they got the job right.