Motions

Suicide Prevention

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:59): I move:

That this council—

1. Notes that 10 September is R U OK? Day;

2. Notes that 10 September is also World Suicide Prevention Day;

3. Congratulates the Hon. John Dawkins MLC for being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Suicide Prevention Australia on 10 September 2020;

4. Notes the award nomination citation:

'The Hon. John Dawkins MLC: for his work advocating for suicide prevention in the South Australian Parliament. Mr Dawkins is the state's first Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention, and advocated for funding that led to the development of the 2017-21 State Suicide Prevention Plan, and the State Mental Health Services Plan 2020-25. John has also advocated for a suicide register, a Suicide Prevention Council, training programs and the development of State Suicide Prevention Networks';

5. Notes the award statement from Suicide Prevention Australia:

'Suicide Prevention Australia is delighted to announce the Hon. John Dawkins MLC as the recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest of accolades for outstanding and sustained contribution to the suicide prevention sector';

6. Notes comments about the Hon. John Dawkins MLC by the federal Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, who presented the award:

'You're giving people help, you’re giving people support and you’re giving people a sense that their lives matter…well done, John';

7. Acknowledges the Hon. John Dawkins MLC for his lifelong commitment to suicide prevention;

8. Acknowledges that the Hon. John Dawkins MLC has worked closely with, and been supported by, both Liberal and Labor governments in his work on suicide prevention, in particular the establishment of suicide prevention networks in South Australia; and

9. Reiterates its gratitude to the Hon. John Dawkins MLC regarding his leadership, advocacy and commitment to suicide prevention.

This is a very important motion. It recognises that 10 September, in the last sitting week, was R U OK? Day and also World Suicide Prevention Day. Around 3,000 Australians die from suicide every year. It is the 14^th most common cause of death, and also accounts for the highest number of potential life years lost.

The 20 most common causes of death all have a median mortality age in the 70s and 80s—all of them except suicide, where the median age is just 44, around half of that for the other top 19 causes of death. Whilst we rightly invest large sums into areas such as roads and road safety, the fact is that suicide kills twice as many people as road fatalities. Suicide also affects different groups in our society more than others. Its prevalence is three times higher amongst men than women, and it is the highest cause of death for Aboriginal children. Despite all of this, the most important thing to acknowledge is that suicide is so often preventable.

World Suicide Prevention Day was held on 10 September 2020 and is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. The World Health Organization is a co-sponsor of the day, the purpose of which is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. In past years, over 300 activities in about 70 countries were involved in the International Association for Suicide Prevention. These included educational and commemorative events, press briefings and conferences, as well as social media coverage.

Another important aspect of the day that also occurred on 10 September is R U OK? Day. It began with Barry Larkin, and has been continuing since it started a number of years ago. R U OK?'s vision is a world where we are all connected and protected from suicide. Its mission is to inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with people around them and to support anyone struggling with life. It would certainly be a good thing for members of this chamber to adopt the mission and the vision of R U OK? Day as much as possible in their daily life.

I would also like to briefly reflect on the history of Suicide Prevention Australia, which recently awarded the President of this chamber, the Hon. John Dawkins, a lifetime achievement award. In 1992, suicide prevention advocate Alan Staines returned from an international conference with a plan to establish Australia's first national voice for suicide and suicide prevention.

Today, Suicide Prevention Australia is the peak body for suicide prevention and represents over 240 members and associates. The organisation works to build a stronger suicide prevention sector, a more aware and engaged community, and a more effective regulatory and funding environment. It does this through a range of conferences, research grants, and its suicide prevention quality improvement program. It raises funds to support policy development and advocacy.

A key part of this motion is to recognise that the President of this chamber, the Hon. John Dawkins, was recently recognised by Suicide Prevention Australia with a lifetime achievement award. This is well-deserved, and it is important that this chamber pauses to recognise this. For many people, personal experience often sparks unshakeable and lifelong commitments to causes and I know, from having spoken to the President of this chamber, that in the early 2000s the President was deeply affected by two farmers who took their own lives. Many will remember the Millennium Drought that wrought devastation on rural communities and saw many farmers who had not otherwise experienced it fall into high levels of debt—some, for the very first time, into any level of debt.

The President, through his work with rural organisations, knew of a group in Tasmania with an interest in suicide prevention and taking local action. He helped facilitate their involvement in South Australia, which led to work with councils, particularly on Eyre Peninsula and in the Riverland. Since that time, I congratulate the President for being instrumental in encouraging the established networks. Today, there are around 40 local suicide prevention networks that have operated in South Australia. As we know, the President of the chamber, the Hon. John Dawkins, was first appointed as a shadow parliamentary secretary for suicide prevention in 2012. That gave him the opportunity to contribute to the state's first suicide prevention plan and work with local prevention networks.

More recently, we saw the release of the 2017-2021 SA Suicide Prevention Plan, and $150,000 each year has been provided by the Suicide Prevention Community Grants scheme. In 2018, the Hon. John Dawkins was appointed as the first ever Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention, which gave him a platform to continue to work tirelessly in this area. Quite rightly, for the work that he has done, he is now the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Suicide Prevention Australia and has been lauded by the federal Minister for Health for his work.

Many of us spend our time in parliament advocating for many causes, but it is not often that one will leave this chamber being remembered especially for actually having made a difference in an area that you hold dear, and that is something I congratulate the President on doing. I think he will be pleased to be remembered, if not for many other things, for his lasting and enduring contribution to that cause in his time in this place. I congratulate the President on the recognition of the work he has done and note the importance of R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. N.J. Centofanti.