ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR —
REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA
925. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Mental Health:
My question is to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Community Services. I refer to anecdotal evidence
from people living in regional WA that many people receiving JobSeeker payments
are spending an increased amount of money on alcohol, which is leading to an
increase in alcohol abuse and associated antisocial behaviour.
(1) Is the minister aware that
JobSeeker payments are causing an increase in antisocial behaviour?
(2) If so, what has the state
government implemented to tackle this increase?
Hon ALANNA
CLOHESY replied:
The question was redirected to me as
the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health. I thank
the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Mental
Health Commission has received anecdotal reports from a variety of sources
regarding the use of JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments to buy alcohol in
regional communities.
(2) The state
government has implemented and is implementing the following empirically based
programs —
(a) funding for alcohol and other drug prevention
officers in all regions in regional Western Australia. Prevention
officers work with organisations and community in their region to address
alcohol and other drug–related harms at the local level;
(b) support
for the development of multi-stakeholder alcohol and other drug management
plans to reduce the harms associated with alcohol and other drug use. There are
currently 28 plans either in development or being processed statewide. Plan
meetings are an avenue for monitoring and responding to current trends and
concerns occurring;
(c) reinstatement
of the Kimberley liquor restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic
in 
response
to community calls for this action; and
(d) a series of statewide public education campaigns
addressing both alcohol use and mental health have been implemented
in 2020 and are planned for the latter part of the year. The campaigns are
supported by local activities.
Campaigns include the ''Alcohol.Think Again'' ''Glassbody 'Immunity'''
public education campaign launched in April 2020 in response to the
anticipated increase in alcohol use related to the COVID-19 pandemic; a new
Think Mental Health ''Be positive. Be Connected. Be Active''
campaign to meet community need in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which
includes a range of information, including ways people can support each other
and seek professional support during the pandemic; the Think Mental Health men's
campaign, which is currently in place statewide; and a new ''Alcohol.Think
Again'' campaign will be launched across Western Australia in October
2020.