17 June, 2026
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (12:29): I move:
That this council—
1. Notes that—
(a) The South Australian government commissioned the Unmet Mental Health Service Need in South Australia that could be met by the NGO Sector (2023) report to determine the level of shortfall and future investment required to deliver mental health services in South Australia;
(b) The state budget 2026-27 prioritised mental health funding for crisis and hospital services, with no new funding allocated to deliver specialised mental health community support programs;
(c) South Australia requires an investment of $125 million per annum to meet the community-based mental health needs of South Australians who do not have access to mental health supports; and
(d) For every dollar invested by the state government in community-based mental health services this will provide an economic return on investment of $2.41.
2. Recognises that the report identified a minimum of 19,000 South Australians living with severe mental illness who are not receiving any form of service or support to address their complex mental health needs; and
3. Calls on the Minister for Health and Wellbeing to request agreement at the upcoming Joint Health and Mental Health Ministers' Meeting for a timeline to address the shortfall in service support across jurisdictions that is not met through foundational supports or the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
It is pretty disappointing that the Labor government commissioned the Unmet Mental Health Service Need in South Australia that could be met by the NGO Sector report back in 2023 and, as often tends to be the case with this Labor government when it comes to reports or committee inquiries, it is sitting in a drawer somewhere gathering dust rather than being implemented.
I welcome the fact that the government is putting an increased focus on our hospital system, after failing to get ramping under control in the previous parliament and having made an election commitment in 2022 that they would get ramping under control. They failed to do that, but I do welcome the fact that they are putting more of an emphasis on our hospital system. However, preventative health is also vitally important.
We know that often when you turn up in an ambulance you are at the more serious end, and being able to provide mental health support to people who are struggling early on in the piece is really worthwhile. As this motion notes, it does come with a significant economic return as well, that is, $2.41 for every dollar that is invested in community-based mental health services. I think it is time for the government to really start to put an emphasis on that and to recognise the value of this.
If this motion passes, I hope that the Minister for Health and Wellbeing will raise this at a national level to see what can be done in terms of collaboration across states and at a national level to make sure that this unmet need is finally met, because it is now the third budget in a row where we are not seeing the commitment that is needed to really get this under control and make significant headway. Of course, this is a matter that the Greens will continue to raise in this place. As I did with the previous motion, I flag that I intend to bring this motion to a vote after the parliamentary break.
Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.