RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

494 Queensland Mental Health Commission Bill 7 Mar 2013
I encourage everyone who really cares about other people’s mental health to try to listen more,
especially to our spouses, our children and our friends. And this leads me to speak of what I see as
an epidemic of depression and suicide—something that has probably touched everyone here in one
way or another, and I have certainly had my fair share of it. My stepfather took a rifle to his head, my
husband’s grandmother hung herself and, most tragically, two dear friends’ teenage sons also took
their own lives. I have to wonder whether if there had been some program similar to the RSL’s Men’s
Sheds at least some of these suicides could have been prevented.
I close by bringing to the attention of the opposition that this plan is a living document. It is
dynamic and can be improved when new ideas with proven effectiveness come to light. In my
experienced opinion, there is absolutely no downside. I commend this bill to the House.
Mr HOPPER (Condamine—KAP) (12.17 pm): This is good legislation. In supporting this bill I
would like to put forward a few suggestions about mental health in our rural sector. I suggest that the
minister include additional specific measures to support those affected by mental illness particularly in
the rural sector in Queensland. The minister is very, very aware of the push that has gone on around
Cecil Plains and some of the farmers in that area who have suffered horrific floods. There are more
farmers suiciding each year, more chronic depression and more substance abuse than ever before in
the bush.
Mental health for rural communities needs greater input particularly after the current floods and
the damage that has worsened an already dire situation for an already disadvantaged rural
community. Most of the carers of patients of mental illnesses are family members. Our farmers are
suffering with increased production costs, labour hire constraints with the skilled workers going to the
mining sector, the cost-of-living increases and the lack of stability in the marketplace for the very
produce they stay out in the regions to create.
With agriculture being one of the four pillars of progress in the LNP’s strategy for this state, it is
very sad to see such slow and inadequate measures following in the wake of a natural disaster like
the Queensland floods. There is little long-term planning to create levee banks around towns and
provide strategic mapping to flood-prone land along the waterways which would assist these farmers
when planting in flood-prone times of the year.
Let us get down to the root causes of mental health in these areas. The DPI’s research centres
where this very kind of training could have been offered are now closed. I think it is very sad. People
with mental health issues are overrepresented among lower socioeconomic groups that often rent or
live in parts of the community that are more likely to be flooded. As the cost of living continues to
climb with the proposed sell-off of government owned corporations like our power suppliers, the
reality is that these families will be left further behind, and the gap between the haves and have-nots
continues to grow. We can only expect, then, an increase in mental illness.
I would like to raise a situation that was brought to my attention just this morning. There are 19
families in the Bundaberg region who lost their homes. They were living in caravan homes as
permanent residents in a caravan park. They moved to the showgrounds to be looked after. The
council is now kicking them out of the showgrounds, turning off the power and locking the toilets. I
think that is absolutely disgusting. I call on the member for Bundaberg and Minister for Police to act
immediately. This is right in the middle of his electorate and he should show some leadership. I have
been told that he has turned a blind eye to the situation. I hope that is not true. I bring that to the
attention of the Minister for Health. Nineteen families in Bundaberg have absolutely nowhere to go.
The council is kicking them out of the showgrounds, locking the toilets and turning the power off.
Mr GULLEY (Murrumba—LNP) (12.22 pm): I rise in support of the Queensland Mental Health
Commission Bill 2012. Before I commence, I would like to acknowledge how privileged I am to have
in the gallery my parents, Bruce and Jannie Gulley, or ‘oma’ and ‘opa’ as they are known in my family.
Unfortunately, the member for Moggill just left the chamber as they are two very good voters in the
electorate of Moggill. I apologise for giving away the intentions of my parents.
Firstly, I applaud the minister on this reform. Before I talk more specifically about this bill, I see
mental health as one of the last great frontiers for society to tackle. Before question time the Premier
spoke about International Women’s Day. We as a society have made great progress in the equal
treatment of women in the last century or so. As a society we have also made great reforms and seen
improvement in our treatment of foreigners. Clearly our society is a lot better in treating and handling