Mental Health

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS ().22 March 2023).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has advised

This external report, commissioned by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist under the former government, analyses the level of shortfall and future investment required in non-government sector psychosocial services in SA, at both federal and state government levels. The report is publicly available on the Chief Psychiatrist's website.

The report was commissioned following real cuts to funding that occurred to NGO psychosocial services under the former Marshall Liberal government.

Between 2018-19 and 2020-21, the funding for NGO commissioned mental health services by the SA government was cut by 19.2 per cent.

The percentage of that cut would be even larger if accounting for inflation.

In contrast, the Malinauskas Labor government has increased funding for NGO commissioned mental health services by 11.8 per cent in just its first year.