House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Suicide Prevention Council Suicide Prevention Council Mr WHETSTONE House of Assembly Chaffey Suicide Prevention Council Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister advise what progress is being made in identifying and appointing the member for the Suicide Prevention Council? The Hon. C.J. PICTON House of Assembly Kaurna Minister for Health and Wellbeing Suicide Prevention Council The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:43): As people know, the previous parliament passed the Suicide Prevention Act, which is something that contained fantastic bipartisan support. In particular, I note you, sir, and your advocacy with regard to that legislation and your previous role as the Premier's advocate for suicide prevention. We now have a process underway that is being led through Wellbeing SA along with the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and the Mental Health Commissioners. A public call went out for people to put their hand up to be a member of the Suicide Prevention Council. We are now going through an interview process. I think I got an update about this only two days ago, and a number of interviews have taken place. A short list is being considered, and that will receive the appropriate consideration of cabinet soon. This is something that is very important to set up. I really want to take this moment to mark not only your service, sir, in previous roles advocating in this area but also the role of the Hon. John Dawkins, who is no longer in this parliament, who was the first advocate for suicide prevention and helped establish the Suicide Prevention Council. He is somebody with whom I have been actively meeting and having discussions since my appointment as the Minister for Health, in terms of how we establish this council and how we take forward that work that he started to make sure that we do everything we possibly can to help prevent suicide from occurring in South Australia.