MOUNT Gambier and the Limestone Coast will miss out on a $20m Australian Government boost to drug and alcohol treatment services with the region not considered as an “area of need” compared to other South Australian locations.
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the funding, which will particularly focus on “rural and regional areas and hotspots or areas of need”, including the Fleurieu, Peterborough in the Mid North, Port Augusta, Ceduna, Murray Bridge, Playford and Port Adelaide.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the areas of need were determined on consultation with the State Government, service providers and primary health networks.
Mr Pasin said all three stakeholders undertake extensive needs assessments to determine service gaps in their regions.
“Areas of need were not determined on political decisions, but based on evidence,” he said.
Mr Pasin said although funding for drug and alcohol treatment services were historically the responsibility of state governments, the Federal Government had stepped up into the funding space following “16 years of failure by the South Australian State Labor Government to deliver these services”.
State Labor MLC Clare Scriven struck back at Mr Pasin’s claims, saying the former Weatherill Government had delivered Mount Gambier’s residential drug rehabilitation as part of the regionally-focused $8m Stop the Hurt strategy.
She said both Mr Pasin and his State Liberal colleague Health Minister Stephen Wade had questions to answer about Mount Gambier’s eligibility omission given the significant issue with drugs in the region.
Ms Scriven called on the pair to lobby the Federal Government, seeking the region to be considered as an “area of need” included in the funding.
However, Mr Pasin noted the funding opportunity did not exclude Mount Gambier-based organisations from applying, proving their proposal delivered increased services into an “area of need”.
The funding, which will be available over three years, will provided as grants of up to $2.5m in each identified area of need.
The grant aims to deliver evidence-based and best practice treatment services for drug and alcohol use – including residential rehabilitation – and strengthen treatment service capabilities.
In a statement, a Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) spokesperson said the South East was “certainly considered” but “did not rank higher than those regions most in need”.
The statement said Adelaide Primary Health Network, Country SA Primary Health Network, SA Health and the South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services were consulted by the Federal Health Department.
“SA Health provided advice to the Australian Government to assist them to identify funding objectives, commissioning options and areas of needs, which were identified using a range of available data,” the spokesperson said.
“The final list of locations included in the grant opportunity guidelines was the decision of the Australian Government when considering the advice of all groups, not just SA Health.
“While increased alcohol and other drug treatment services would be beneficial for all regions, there needs to be a level of prioritisation for funding purposes.
“Since 2012, there has been increased investment from SA Health in the South East, including increased outpatient appointments since 2015 and a new residential rehabilitation facility in 2018.”
