1301. Hon Alison Xamon to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the Government’s budget allocation of $18 million, to establish an alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation centre in the South West, and I ask:
(a) how will rehabilitation beds be distributed across the South West region;
(b) does the allocated funding include provision for capital costs such as building new facilities or fitting out existing buildings;
(c) has funding been quarantined for minority communities such as young people and Aboriginal people; and
(d) if yes to (c), how?
Hon Alanna Clohesy replied: I am advised that:
(a) The procurement of the residential rehabilitation beds and low medical withdrawal beds will be through an open tender process in line with State Supply Commission’s, Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy. The location of beds will be determined, in part, by the tenders submitted as part of the procurement process.
(b) Funding of $9.306 million in operational funding has been allocated in the 2018/19 Budget to contract services in the South West for the provision of low medical withdrawal beds and residential rehabilitation beds. There is no allocation to the Mental Health Commission (MHC) to undertake capital construction. In October 2017, the MHC conducted a Registration of Interest process which identified a number of alcohol and other drug treatment service providers that have the capacity to provide these services in the South West, eliminating the need for the Government to build and own a new facility. This enables services to be delivered two years ahead of the commencement date estimated in the 2017/18 Budget.
(c) No. The MHC will be seeking, in accordance with the estimated needs in the South West region, to purchase a mix of services targeting adults, youth and Aboriginal people. In addition, Respondents will be required to demonstrate their ability to provide services that consider the needs of people with mental health comorbidities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex.
(d) Not applicable.