Question Time

Mental Health Services Review

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:09): My question is to the Premier. Has the government completed the independent review into the death of Ms Julie Seed? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Julie Seed was allegedly murdered last year by a man armed with a knife and a hammer. He had been released from psychiatric care two days prior. Following the tragic death, the government committed to performing an independent review into the circumstances of her death, including the health system's involvement in the case.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:09): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I think everyone on the government side and everyone across the parliament shares the shock and distress of the entire state at the awful events that occurred in relation to this matter. Obviously, this is being taken extremely seriously by South Australia Police and they are making the appropriate considerations in relation to taking this matter to the courts, and I hope that it is pursued through the courts to the fullest extent of the law.

When this event occurred, the government immediately announced that we would also be undertaking an independent review in relation to this matter. This has been commissioned through the Chief Psychiatrist, Dr John Brayley, and he has engaged two interstate experts to lead this work: Dr Sophie Davison, who is the Chief Medical Officer at the Mental Health Commission in Western Australia, is leading the review and is working with Dr Sandra Keppich-Arnold, who is the Director of Operations at Alfred Health in relation to nursing, mental and addiction health in Victoria.

This is a matter which is still ongoing. The government has not received the report to date. The expectation is that it is likely to be received within the coming weeks, at which time the government will be meeting with the family and discussing the details of the recommendations and the report in detail with the family involved. Of course, we will subsequently be releasing that report publicly as well, and we will be treating those recommendations extremely seriously.