Thursday, 2 May 2019

Eastern Victoria Region

In reply to Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (21 February 2019)

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries):

The Andrews Labor Government knows that it is critical to ensure Victorians get the treatment and support they need, when and where they need it. That’s why in 2018-19 we have committed $259.9 million to tackle this issue through a range of treatment options.

The Government is increasing the number of residential rehabilitation beds from 208 in 2014-15 to 478 once all beds are operational, with over half the new beds located in regional Victoria.

The proposed facility in the Latrobe Valley is the first state funded youth-specific residential rehabilitation facility in regional Victoria and will predominately service young people 16–21 years, however young people up to 25 years deemed developmentally appropriate will be able to access the service.

The HOPE Restart Centre, a 30-bed adult residential rehabilitation facility in Bairnsdale that is currently being built will address the alcohol and other drugs needs of Victorians of all ages in the Gippsland region. The Victorian Government has committed more than $10 million over the next four years to operate this new service.

In acknowledging the Member’s support for the increase in residential rehabilitation facilities for alcohol and other drugs in regional Victoria, her implied criticism fails to withstand an assessment against the investments made by the Baillieu/Napthine Governments.

A statewide increase of two residential beds, a botched recommissioning of services that saw less people receive support—and nowhere more so than the Latrobe Valley—and a loss of skilled staff to the sector, is not a position that allows the honourable member to be critical of this Government’s record investment.