Labor have promised Bunbury will get a step up, step down sub-acute mental health facility worth a total of $9.1 million if elected in March.
Shadow minister for mental health Stephen Dawson was in Bunbury to make the announcement on Thursday where he outlined the first steps of the process.
“If elected we’ll begin a conversation with the community to iron out the location of the facility, that’s not a process that will take a long time,” he said.
Mr Dawson said while nothing was concrete ideally it would be located in proximity to Bunbury’s existing health facilities.
“We’ve been waiting since 2013 for these facilities to be built in Karratha, Kalgoorlie and Bunbury and with massive suicide rates across the state I’d say they’re a priority,” he said.
“It will assist people who have been discharged from from hospital, but require further care to ensure their condition does not deteriorate.”
Mr Dawson also said there would be a focus on staff for the South West.
“The South West will need the staff to operate the facility and good staff are attracted by good resources,” he said.
In line with his mental health goals, Mr Dawson said Labor would also go hard on traffickers of meth and provide assistance for addicts including the introduction of a meth rehab “prison.”
“The prison would be a place separate from mainstream prisons which would be able to detox addicts, provide proper treatment and get them back on their feet,” Mr Dawson said.
Mr Dawson also addressed the Greens plan to decriminalise certain drugs in a bid to turn drug addiction into a health problem rather than a criminal issue.
“Labor don’t have any plans to decriminalise these drugs,” he said.
It was also promised by Bunbury Labor candidate, Don Punch that the special needs school College Row School would gain $200,000 worth of infrastructure improvements to help the broader disabled community.
Mr Punch said the money would expand the hydro therapy access, look into providing a playgroup service and create a hub-style environment for school families and the greater community.
The $200,000 would come from Royalties for Regions.
