House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-06-05 Daily Xml

Contents

Mental Health Services

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:36): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Has the government consulted mental health clinicians or mental health service providers or consumers on the impact of its 25 per cent cut to mental health providers?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:36): Can I make a comment on this. The Labor Party's continual lies regarding cuts to mental health services is absolutely outrageous and shameful.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Premier, please be seated. The point of order is about lying?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 'Lies' is an unparliamentary term, sir, and it should be withdrawn.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order on the point of order.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: It is unparliamentary to say that a particular member has lied—

The SPEAKER: A member has lied, not a party.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —not a class of members.

The SPEAKER: However, I again ask members to reflect on whether this type of language is appropriate to maintain the dignity of the parliament and if we could perhaps rephrase in another way. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I am happy to rephrase it, sir, but what I say to this parliament and the people of South Australia is that there has been no cut whatsoever—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition can leave for 20 minutes under 137A.

The honourable member for Croydon having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to mental health funding in South Australia. The way that the Labor Party has characterised the transfer of funding from the state jurisdiction to the federal jurisdiction has caused massive—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —anxiety and frustration with some of the most vulnerable people in South Australia. It is nothing short of shameful, and members opposite should hang their heads in shame.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett and the member for Wright are called to order. The member for Wright is warned.