Centre For Disability Health

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Supplementary: the minister talked about, I think, originally a recruitment process for a permanent replacement psychiatrist. In his answer to the supplementary he talked about a recruitment process for a locum. Can he confirm whether the recruitment process is for a permanent ongoing position or is it for a locum? If it's for the ongoing position, will he consider making sure a locum is appointed immediately?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:23): We are actively recruiting to a locum now. As I said in my previous answers, the goal of the government is to minimise the disruption to this client group. People with intellectual disabilities, and particularly people with comorbidities in terms of psychiatric disability, are a client group which needs specialist attention. That's why the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists specifically raised this issue with me and that's why the government is actively recruiting to fill the psychiatric vacancy.