Suicide Prevention

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:08): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, questions about suicide prevention.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On 4 June, 18 September and 30 October last year I asked questions of the minister representing the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse regarding various aspects of the government's Suicide Prevention Strategy. Suicide prevention is an important issue and is widely held as one that should remain as a bipartisan matter. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the reason for the lengthy delay in responding to uncomplicated questions on the Suicide Prevention Strategy?

2. Will the minister seek a prompt response to these questions from the minister in another place?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his very important questions on suicide prevention strategies and policies. It is indeed an important issue. I am very pleased with his continuing efforts to make sure that we are all of one view in terms of that policy issue. It is a multipartisan approach that we would like to take. I will undertake to raise the issue of the response with the appropriate persons and try to hurry up that response because, again, it is about a very important issue.