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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-07-02 Daily Xml
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Mental Health Commission

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:23): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the Mental Health Commission maintain its independence once rolled into the Department for Health and Wellbeing SA?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:23): The government has gone out for consultation in relation to mental health governance. There were a whole series of issues that were left unresolved after the term of the former government, including a number of issues that came out of the Oakden reports. One of the other things that we had to deal with was this government's commitment to reinvest in preventive health. The former Labor government, under the McCann review of 2011, significantly de-vested in preventive health, which we believe makes no health sense, it makes no economic sense. Of course, people want to be supported to avoid illness onsetting. Economically, it makes a lot more sense to support them to do that and not provide expensive acute care.

So in committing to establishing Wellbeing SA, the government, of course, was determined that it deal with wellbeing in all its dimensions: physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing and social wellbeing. One of the issues the government asked an independent reviewer to look at in the context of the issues left over from the former government and the issues that faced the new government in terms of health services was where to place preventive health in the context—

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: The question is about the independence of the Mental Health Commission. Did you hear the question?

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I'm sorry; I'm just trying to answer the question. The mental health governance review was asked to look at the future, in particular, of preventive services in the context of mental health. It was the recommendation that mental health should be considered as part of the preventive health focus, so therefore it made sense that particularly the health promotion and preventive elements of the commission move into Wellbeing SA. We went, as a government, out for consultation, and following consultation the government has reaffirmed its commitment that health promotion and prevention, including mental health, will be handled by Wellbeing SA.

In relation to the Mental Health Commission, the government's intention is that there is a valuable ongoing role, as highlighted through the consultation process, in terms of providing lived experience input into the effective governance of mental health services. We have decided to renew the Mental Health Commission, refocus it and, in particular, make sure that the voice of lived experience is part of the work of the Mental Health Commission.

This government is committed to holistic, balanced investment in mental health services, and we believe that the combination of Wellbeing SA and the Mental Health Commission will deliver positive outcomes for consumers and for carers.

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