Unlawful appointments, claims of nepotism and thousands of client cases under a cloud are symptoms of a mental health system in crisis under the incompetent Palaszczuk Labor Government.
LNP Shadow Health Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the string of catastrophes engulfing the sector meant the LNP opposed any further changes to the Mental Health Act.
“Queenslanders have lost confidence in the mental health system and in particular the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the LNP could not support any changes to a system in such dangerous disarray,” Mr Langbroek said.
“Labor’s heartless Health Minister Cameron Dick would rather protect the secretive mental health tribunal process at the expense of families who have lost loved ones at the hands of patients released by the tribunal.
“Thousands of families have been left in the dark over revelations of a dodgy appointment that the Minister knew back in December and did nothing about until now.”
Mr Langbroek said the LNP also refused to back the 54 amendments Labor are trying to push through a Mental Health Act that hasn’t even commenced yet.
“How many more things have been missed, overlooked or not acted on in this Act?,” he said.
“We saw numerous submissions make extra recommendations not in the Act, including a number from the dysfunctional tribunal.
“More worryingly for Queenslanders is the impact certain proposed amendments could have on regional and remote health services.
“What has been revealed over the last few months is a mental health tribunal in meltdown.
“In January it was revealed allegations of nepotism had been referred to the CCC for further investigation.
“Simply rushing through amendments to correct a major legal bungle will do nothing to answer many of the questions left unanswered.”
