South Australia Police 801 Group

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:00): Supplementary: will the minister outline, as I asked in my third question, what roles he now endeavours to take in relation to groups such as 801 in his role as the minister responsible for suicide prevention under the mental health portfolio?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (15:01): Clearly, suicide prevention is an important area of concern to the government and myself, in particular, as the Minister for Mental Health. In respect to meeting with the 801 Group, that being a representative of the specific concerns of police, that effort would probably best rest with the police minister. However, of course, when it comes to suicide prevention generally, I think we have a lot of work to do as a community and I am sure the honourable member, Mr Dawkins, knows this probably better than anyone.

Tragically, suicide claims more lives in Australia today than the road toll, yet it probably doesn't receive the same notoriety as road accidents do. In one way, that is a good thing, but in another way, it inhibits the ability of the community to realise the severity and size of the impact that suicide regularly has on us as a society, so I think there is always more work to be done.

In respect of the 801 Group's engagement, my generally held view would be that, it being of a more industrial and police-specific nature, ongoing engagement would best be facilitated through the Police Association and the police portfolio.