201. Hon ALISON XAMON to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the second reading speech for the Mental Health Bill 2013, in particular, comments relating to the review clause and the need for the review of the act to be timely, comprehensive and genuinely engage all stakeholders.
(1) How is planning to design the consultation process for the review proceeding?
(2) Will the government commit to involving external stakeholders in the design of the review?
(3) Will the scope of the review of the Mental Health Act 2014 include an assessment of challenges to the effective implementation of the Mental Health Act 2014?
(4) Noting the complexity of the Mental Health Act 2014, when does the government intend to initiate the review process?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
On behalf of the parliamentary secretary, the following information has been provided by the Minister for Mental Health.
(1) The Mental Health Commission is currently progressing a two-year post-implementation review of the Mental Health Act 2014. This review is required to be submitted to the regulatory gatekeeping unit of the Department of Finance by 30 November 2017. The act also requires a five-year statutory review of its operation and effectiveness.
(2) The government is committed to involving external stakeholders in the preparation of the two-year post-implementation review and the five-year statutory review. The Mental Health Commission is currently consulting with the Department of Health, the Chief Psychiatrist, non-government organisations and other key stakeholders for the purposes of the post-implementation review. It is expected that consultation with consumers, families and carers will commence in July 2017.
(3) The post-implementation review will focus on whether the objects set out in part 3 of the Mental Health Act 2014 are being achieved. The statutory review will be broader in sc ope, focusing on the operation and effectiveness of the act.
(4) The Mental Health Commission is currently undertaking consultation as part of the post-implementation review of the Mental Health Act 2014. This will inform the future statutory review, although the statutory review will be broader in scope.