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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-03 Daily Xml
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GLENSIDE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse a question about Glenside Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Members will recall that yesterday this council established a select committee for the important purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the government's ill-advised proposal to sell a substantial part of the Glenside Hospital site. That proposal has met with serious concern by community members, staff of the hospital, mental health experts and advocates who are seriously concerned about the effect on mental health services in this state if the project proceeds—as the government appears keen to make it proceed.

If the government, before that important committee completes its deliberations and reports, were to make contractual or other arrangements, designed to negate any recommendations that the select committee would make, it would be a matter for very serious concern, probably a contempt of this parliament. Will the minister undertake that the government will not sell, encumber or enter into any contractual arrangements in relation to the Glenside Hospital site prior to the select committee presenting its report to the council?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:18): The straightforward answer is no; categorically no. This government has spent a great deal of time and energy investing in public consultation to put its reform agenda clearly out in the public arena. The Social Inclusion Board and Monsignor Cappo conducted an 18-month investigation into a blueprint for reform of South Australia's mental health system, which was left in a state of absolute disgrace by the former Liberal government, which did nothing in terms of improving or advancing mental health services. Members opposite should hang their heads in shame.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I will come back to the six years. In terms of what we have been doing for the past six years, I am happy to do that. In relation to our reform agenda, there was 18 months consultation by the Social Inclusion Board. Consultation occurred with a wide range of key stakeholders and community groups, and a range of various committees were established. Some 18 months of consultation occurred. That blueprint outlined not only a redevelopment for the Glenside campus and the importance of that, but also the overall reform of our services.

In terms of the Glenside redevelopment, which is part of that reform agenda, again a great deal of public involvement has occurred and will continue to occur. The consultation will be ongoing. The government has a responsibility to ensure the upgrade and ongoing good quality of mental health services, and that is what it is doing. In the six years we have been in government we have already commenced that program. We have built the Margaret Tobin Centre, a specialist mental health centre, at the Repatriation General Hospital. We are well under way in terms of our mental health facility at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. We are building a community rehabilitation centre, which is a brand new service that has never been available in South Australia previously. It is state-of-the-art and focused on rehabilitation.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The community rehabilitation centre—the opposition obviously does not understand when I say it is the first of a new service—has never been available previously. It is based on a length of stay of between four and six months and focuses on rehabilitating and reintegrating into the community people who have suffered a mental illness. It is about re-engaging people into their local communities in terms of their previous relationships, employment, etc., and improving their self-confidence. These are the things we have been doing in the six years we have been in office. We have opened two out of three of those brand new services that have never been conducted here before.

Not only are we doing that, but also we have a plan to continue that reform agenda in terms of building a new hospital at Glenside, introducing intermediate care beds, increasing supervised 24-hour supported accommodation, and we have also secured ongoing recurrent funding for the NGO sector which provides psycho-support packages for people in their communities. So, as members can see, a vast range of services have already been put in place, and we have a plan for a complete overhaul of our mental health system.

In terms of our plans for the Glenside campus, we have been very open and transparent about our proposals for that site, and we have a responsibility to get on and build and reform mental health services—services that we can be proud of.

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