Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Decriminalisation of public drunkenness

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (15:00): (299) My question is again to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, what risk assessment was undertaken by the government in relation to using a residential area for the location of the sobering-up centre in Collingwood that will be dealing with alcohol-affected and drug-affected individuals?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:00): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. Of course it is important to make sure that these services are in the areas of our city and our regions where we need them the most, so the location of this particular service has been informed by a number of trials that have been undertaken, including one in nearby Gertrude Street. Also of course there are statistics around the numbers of people actually intoxicated in public over the past little while, and those issues have informed the location of the service – a service that will be run, I am sure, very effectively by Cohealth, who have a track record of running a number of different community health services for people in our community who find themselves in very vulnerable circumstances and who require their specialist service in a location that it is required in.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (15:01): Minister, I take it there was no risk assessment undertaken. The community has raised concerns about the risk to their safety. Adding further to those concerns are reported comments made by the Deputy Premier that he expected the community would look after drunks who refuse assistance. Can the minister provide details of the assistance and safety measures that will be put in place to reduce the risk to local residents and protect them from those who refuse to accept assistance once transported to the centre?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:02): I have a concern about the way in which you frame your supplementary question, because it kind of implies that people who might find themselves intoxicated in public are a threat to the rest of the community, which can I say, from someone who has got a background in the health system, is actually adding to the stigma of people who need this service the most.

Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, it is not an opportunity to debate the answer, and she knows well – she should, as minister – that this has been reported on and the community has risks. I would ask you to draw the minister back to the question around what the details are of the assistance that will be provided to this community regarding safety concerns.

The PRESIDENT: I think in essence in the first 10 seconds the minister rejected the premise of your question. But, Minister, do you want to complete –

Ingrid STITT: I have concluded my answer, President.