Question On Notice No. 1571 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 August 2018 by Hon Nick Goiran
Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to funding cuts to the Meth Helpline, and I ask:
(a) what was the Alcohol and Other Drug Support Service’s budget in 2017-18 and how does this compare to the 2018-19 budget for the same service;
(b) how much of the Alcohol and Other Drug Support Service’s budget for 2018-19 has been allocated to staffing and promotion of the Meth Helpline;
(c) for the year 2016–2017, for each of the following services, how many people, and what percentage of callers, were unable to get through to a person immediately and required a call back for the:
(i) Meth Helpline;
(ii) Parent and Family Drug Support Line; and
(iii) Alcohol and Other Drug Support Line; and
(d) what were the number of meth-related calls, and total calls, received by the Alcohol and Other Drug Support Service for the years 2015–2016, 2016–2017 and 2017–2018?
Answered on 11 September 2018
I am advised that:
(a) The Alcohol and Drug Support Service (ADSS) budget was $1,551,664 in 2017-18, and is $1,397,664 in 2018-19.
(b) The Meth Helpline was previously, and continues to be, resourced by the staff of the ADSS. There is no budget for the promotion of the Meth Helpline in 2018/19.
(c)
|
Number of people unable to get through
|
Percentage of callers unable to get through
|
(i) Meth Helpline
|
203
|
24%
|
(ii) Parent and Family Drug Support Line
|
267
|
19%
|
(iii) Alcohol and Drug Support Line
|
1,373
|
24%
|
Unable to report on the number called back.
(d)
|
Meth related calls1
|
Alcohol and Drug Support Service calls2
|
2015-16
|
3,112
|
23,698
|
2016-173
|
5,086
|
20,676
|
2017-18
|
4,225
|
19,295
|
1 Includes meth related calls to both the Meth Helpline and the ADSS.
2 Quitline ceased 1 July 2016.
3 The Meth Helpline commenced September 2016.