MENTAL HEALTH BEDS

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (14:44): I have a supplementary question. With 40 extra beds, where is the government going to get the extra medical and nursing staff that will be required?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:44): As I have outlined in this chamber previously, we have an extensive attraction and recruitment program; we continue with that. We have been successful fairly recently in recruiting some overseas nurses; we continue with that. I cannot believe that any member in this chamber would suggest that we do not build a new state-of-the-art recovery facility because recruitment is challenging. Is that what the opposition would do if it was in government? Would the opposition say, 'Oh, well, it's tough recruiting. This is really hard work, so we won't bother building it in the first place.' That is an outrageous position.