House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-13 Daily Xml

Contents

Suicide Prevention Advocate

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): My question is to the Premier. Will the member for Kavel be allowed to continue his important work as suicide prevention advocate, or will the Premier dismiss him? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: When the former suicide prevention advocate, the Hon. John Dawkins in the other place, took to the crossbench, the Premier sacked him from the role on World Suicide Prevention Day. Does he intend to issue the same punishment to the member for Kavel this time around?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:26): As is practice, when the Premier's suicide prevention advocate goes to higher office, whether it be Mr Dawkins as the President, Mr Teague into the role of Speaker or, indeed, yourself, sir, into this role of Speaker, it has been common practice to appoint somebody new, and that's my intention.

I wrote to the Speaker earlier on this matter and, of course, we will be putting somebody else into that role very soon. Although, I would send a very strong message to the entire chamber that just by accepting my invitation to become the Premier's suicide prevention advocate, it does not mean that you are definitely entitled to become either the President or the Speaker, despite the fact the last three have ended up in exactly that specific role.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Premier. Can I say, it was an honour and privilege to serve you in that role.