Legislative Council Backs Mental Health Unmet Needs Motion - But Government Still Stalling on Support.

MEDIA RELEASE

Legislative Council Backs Mental Health Unmet Needs Motion - But Government Still Stalling on Support.

Friday 20 June 2025

The Legislative Council has backed a motion from SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros calling for urgent investment in psychosocial services for people with severe mental illness—despite a failed attempt by the Malinauskas Labor Government to water it down and pass the buck to Canberra.

The motion, passed by the Legislative Council last night, urges the state government to formally respond to the Unmet Needs in Mental Health report, which found 19,000 South Australians are missing out on the support they need. The report, commissioned by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and handed to the government in mid-2023, recommended $125 million in annual funding to close the gap. Nearly two years on, just 2% of that has been committed.

Instead of backing the motion in full, the Malinauskas Labor Government attempted to delete references to the scale of the crisis, the $125 million shortfall, and their own inaction. Their amendments were rejected by the Opposition and crossbench. 

Ms Bonaros said the government’s effort to gut the motion was a transparent attempt to dodge responsibility.

The passage of the motion puts renewed pressure on the Malinauskas Labor Government to stop stalling and act on the recommendations it’s had sitting on its desk for nearly two years.

Quotes attributable to the Hon Connie Bonaros MLC:

“This is an urgent and growing crisis. The report was handed to the government almost two years ago. That’s two years of delay. Two years of missed opportunities. And two years of South Australians continuing to fall through the cracks.

“The Chief Psychiatrist gave us a roadmap. The numbers are there. The need is obvious. The only thing missing is action.

“People in crisis don’t care which level of government is responsible. They just want help—and they need it now.

Media and Communications Advisor | Kate Joy

kate.joy@parliament.sa.gov.au | 0403711981