Oakden Mental Health Facility

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): Supplementary: prior to the Minister for Mental Health making a decision to recommend the closure of the Oakden facility and the transfer to the Northfield wards—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order

Ms CHAPMAN: —did the minister consult with any other member of the ministry, other than the Premier, in respect of her decision to recommend a closure of the Oakden facility and, if so, whom?

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS (Taylor—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:28): Let me go back over some of the answers I have made very, very obvious this week for the chamber, having made three parliamentary statements about this matter and the government's response to it and the actions we have undertaken since January to improve the care and condition of people at Oakden.

In October last year, the community visitor contacted my office about the Spriggs family and their frustrations from a lack of response about the Oakden service and their concerns for their father, the late Bob Spriggs. My office sought a briefing from NALHN and its CE. In December, I met with Jackie Hanson, the CE of NALHN, and she provided me a briefing on the Spriggs matter regarding Oakden. At this point, I was so concerned I triggered, authorised or started—whichever language the opposition would like to use—the review.

The review then had a period of time from about 20 December, where the Chief Psychiatrist was doing preparatory work for the review, between Jackie Hanson and himself. In January of this year, the review officially commenced. It is a matter for public record that on 20 April I took the full review to the cabinet. The cabinet adopted the full government response, which includes the closure of the Oakden site, and we fully released the Oakden report.