Question Without Notice No. 947 asked in the Legislative Council on 5 December 2017 by Hon Alison Xamon
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES
947. Hon ALISON XAMON to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the commonwealth government's psychosocial support services funding program, designed to assist people with psychosocial disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which requires states and territories to also contribute funding to the program in order to be eligible for commonwealth funding.
(1) Has money been allocated in the state budget to satisfy Western Australia's eligibility for commonwealth funding under this program?
(2) If yes to (1) —
(a) how much;
(b) has WA's contribution been obtained through a reduction in funding to any existing mental health services; and
(c) if so, which services?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
On behalf of the parliamentary secretary, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The commonwealth is negotiating with the states on the allocation of funding for the program. Western Australia has requested that the commonwealth's psychosocial support measure complement state funding and services, and that the existing funding that has been maintained by the state is taken into consideration by the commonwealth.
(2) (a) Not applicable.
(b) The state government of Western Australia has not reduced funding for existing psychosocial supports.
(c) Not applicable.
(3) The allocation of funding by the commonwealth is subject to current negotiation.