Question Time

Oakden Mental Health Facility

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): My question is to the Premier. Given that the Premier has just recently again repeated his expression of confidence in the Minister for Mental Health's performance, why should South Australians have any confidence in this government to keep them safe?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:18): Because when bad things happen, we disclose them and we account for them and we take immediate steps to remedy them. It is horrifying to think that, with all of the measures that we have put in place to supervise the conduct of these workers, with all of the steps that have been taken to suspend workers who have engaged in this behaviour, this conduct still continues.

It is true that these two most recent pieces of conduct were detected by the observers that we put in the facility, and they were of course immediately reported and then action was taken to suspend both of these workers. The new leader we have put in, Duncan McKellar, who is actually one of the three people who reviewed this facility, despite these events has made it very clear to us that he believes that the quality of care at this facility has dramatically improved.

He also points to the fact that there is now a culture of disclosure rather than a culture of cover-up. As distressing as it is to report to this house further events, it seems that some of the conduct is so inculcated into the way in which they deal with people with very severe behavioural mannerisms that it seems that there has just been a pattern of dealing with these people which is completely and utterly unacceptable.

The relevant leader of this facility has made it clear that he believes that there are a number of excellent staff there who have heeded the message and who provide excellent care to each of these very vulnerable clients, but some just seem not to respect the basic dignity and rights of each of them. When that behaviour is detected, it is assertively responded to. In the meantime, there has been very substantial training applied to each of the members of this workforce and we will be taking a very clear and careful look at the recruitment processes and policies in relation to this facility. We can't get to the new facility soon enough so that the new culture can be well established and bedded down with all of the appropriate staff looking after these vulnerable citizens.