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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-07-02 Daily Xml
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Suicide Prevention

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Acting Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse a question regarding the state's Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Last year, the government committed to add an additional one full-time equivalent to assist the rollout of the state's Suicide Prevention Strategy. On 18 July 2014 in estimates, the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse assured the opposition during questioning on the Suicide Prevention Strategy—and I quote from a line of questioning by the member for Morphett (Dr McFetridge) in another place:

In the suicide prevention programs. In the community grants area, I understand there is only [one] staff member who is organising the rollout of these programs. Is there any intent to increase that?

The Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Hon. J.J. Snelling said:

That one FTE is actually an additional position on top of what we have currently got.

I was very pleased to hear that, particularly regarding the need to assist in the establishment of further suicide prevention networks across the South Australian community. However, I was frustrated to find towards the end of last year that no appointment had been made. I subsequently followed up that concern with letters to minister Snelling early this year. Having had no response again, in early April the honourable member for Taylor in another place said, 'The minister's parliamentary secretary wrote to me on 15 April admitting that there had been a delay and advising me that the position should be filled by July 2015.' However, at this point I am yet to hear of any concrete appointment to that position. My question is: when will the additional full-time equivalent position to assist with the rollout of the Suicide Prevention Strategy, as advised by the minister in his answers during estimates last year, actually be filled?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for his question. I do not have the answer to his question with me now, but I will take it on notice and make sure a reply is brought back as soon as possible. I do note his continuing and very genuine interest in this matter, both in this chamber and advocating for the community on suicide prevention. I think the work he has done in this field is a great credit to him, so I will make sure a reply is brought back as soon as possible.

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