Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

213. Hon ALISON XAMON to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:

I refer to public consultation undertaken by the mental health sub-networks to inform the development of a model for a trans-cultural mental health unit.

(1)  Has a preferred model been presented to the Mental Health Commission for consideration?

(2)  If no to (1), what is the expected time frame for a model to be presented?

HON ALISON XAMON (North Metropolitan) [9.58 pm]: I rise to speak on what I thought were pretty horrifying reports that came out on Sunday about a young Aboriginal woman who in August last year was transported naked, while handcuffed and covered in her own menstrual blood, from Bandyup Women’s Prison to Graylands Hospital. This case raises so many issues. It serves to highlight the unacceptably high and growing rate of imprisonment of Aboriginal Western Australians, something that should concern every one of us.