Mr RIOLI - 1996-10-17
Why did the minister's department let Anthony Scotty continue to walk the streets when it was known that he is a dangerously mentally-ill person?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, may I say that I share the honourable member's concern in relation to that case. Immediately, I heard about the judgment, I ordered a review and a full explanation of the process involved with that individual. When I have all the information, I will act where it is appropriate. I do not wish to comment until I have that report. I will say that, if you read it closely, the media report contains a number of contradictions. That needs further investigation.
When we talk about mentally-disturbed people, we are no longer in the days of the asylums of the 1880s. Since the Burdekin report, we have moved a long way nationally and internationally in terms of dealing with mentally-ill persons. The aim at all times is to return these people to the community where possible. The difficult balancing act that Territory Health Services, Correctional Services and the police have to manage is assessing what needs to be done when there are incidents of violence relating to schizophrenia. At what stage should the decision be taken that, because of schizophrenia or some other mental illness, a
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person needs to be incarcerated because there is a belief that they could become violent at some future time? That is one of the difficult judgments that have to be made at all times. We need to be aware also that not all schizophrenics are necessarily violent people. Once there is a full review of the Scotty case, I will certainly take action where necessary.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, may I say that I share the honourable member's concern in relation to that case. Immediately, I heard about the judgment, I ordered a review and a full explanation of the process involved with that individual. When I have all the information, I will act where it is appropriate. I do not wish to comment until I have that report. I will say that, if you read it closely, the media report contains a number of contradictions. That needs further investigation.
When we talk about mentally-disturbed people, we are no longer in the days of the asylums of the 1880s. Since the Burdekin report, we have moved a long way nationally and internationally in terms of dealing with mentally-ill persons. The aim at all times is to return these people to the community where possible. The difficult balancing act that Territory Health Services, Correctional Services and the police have to manage is assessing what needs to be done when there are incidents of violence relating to schizophrenia. At what stage should the decision be taken that, because of schizophrenia or some other mental illness, a
Page 1729
person needs to be incarcerated because there is a belief that they could become violent at some future time? That is one of the difficult judgments that have to be made at all times. We need to be aware also that not all schizophrenics are necessarily violent people. Once there is a full review of the Scotty case, I will certainly take action where necessary.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016