Tuesday, 30 August 2022

Ministers statements: mental health services

Ms WILLIAMS (Dandenong—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (14:34): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s work to deliver more mental health beds across Victoria. The royal commission told us we urgently need more acute mental health facilities across our state, and we have not wasted a single day in getting that done. We have invested $492 million to deliver an additional 144 beds, providing more support for people who need it, when they need it, closer to home. Once complete these new beds will provide more than 43 000 days of care and allow 2500 more Victorians to access vital mental health services every year.

Last week I stopped by the Royal Melbourne Hospital to check out its construction of 22 brand new mental health beds. And guess what? While construction is getting underway on these beds at the Royal Melbourne, it is also underway at Sunshine and Epping and nearly complete in Geelong. And separately but at the same time, works are busily progressing underneath the Royal Melbourne on the Metro Tunnel and the brand new Parkville station, which they were keen to tell me was going to be very useful to their patients and workers, because on this side of the house we can build world-class mental health facilities and world-class transport facilities at the same time so that visitors, staff and patients alike can easily access these world-class facilities. This work is also being supported by a massive expansion to our mental health workforce at the same time. From free TAFE to free degrees, we are making sure we have the nurses and mental health practitioners we need to provide world-class care right here in Victoria.

When it comes to the mental health and wellbeing system, we have a plan—an infrastructure plan, a workforce plan, a sustainable funding plan. Those opposite have one plan: cuts. They will cut up the Suburban Rail Loop, cut off suburbs— (Time expired)

Mr Wells: On a point of order, Speaker, I have two unanswered questions: 6334 about waiting times at Dandenong Hospital and 6370 about delays at the Monash hospital. I would appreciate it if you would follow them up.

The SPEAKER: Those questions will be followed up.

Ms Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I am also following up an overdue adjournment for the Minister for Housing, asked 96 days ago: adjournment 6388, asking about housing affordability and accessibility in the Yarra Ranges and the homelessness crisis we are experiencing.

The SPEAKER: The question will be followed up.

Mr D O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker—and I have raised this one with you before—I am still waiting on a response to question 6561, which is now overdue.

The SPEAKER: The question will be followed up.

Dr Read: On a point of order, Speaker, I have some unanswered questions on notice and an adjournment matter—quite a number of them. I would be happy to just supply the numbers to the Clerk.

The SPEAKER: Provide them to the Clerk. They will be followed up.