Mental Health Services

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General about mental health services in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: In February this year, the Chief Executive of Ramsay Psychology, David McGrath, handed down his final report, 'Unmet mental health service need in South Australia that could be met by the NGO sector', on behalf of the South Australian government. For months the government sat on the report despite mounting criticism from stakeholders in the community. It was belatedly released days after the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia began running a strong campaign urging health minister Chris Picton to act. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Why was the government apparently so reluctant to release this report?

2. When will the government commit the necessary $125 million every year to fund support services for 19,000 people who cannot get the assistance they need?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for her question. As she stated in the question, this is a matter that falls within the purview of the health department and the portfolio of the health minister, the Hon. Chris Picton, the member for Kaurna, but I will be happy to refer those questions to him and bring back a reply.