Health Minister Chris Picton says independent review will probe whether the health system failed by releasing Shaun Dunk

Wednesday’s horror fatal stabbing in Plympton has highlighted SA’s crippling health crisis – but the state’s health minister won’t concede a system failure, calling for a review to decide.

Health Minister Chris Picton has refused to concede the health system failed by releasing Shaun Michaels Dunk from hospital in the days before Wednesday’s fatal stabbing – insisting it will be for an independent review to decide.

Mr Picton said Dr Sophie Davison, chief medical officer for mental health in Western Australia, was appointed on Thursday to conduct a full review into the health system’s involvement in the case.

“If there were any issues, if there were any changes, if there were any recommendations that we need to learn from, out of this horrible eventuality, to make sure that we can improve the system in the future,” he said.

He said the review will require interviews with everyone involved and full documentation of all issues, and expected it would take “a number of months” to complete.

Health Minister Chris Picton was asked three times on Thursday if the health system had failed the state over Wednesday’s fatal stabbing, but continued to refer to an upcoming review. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Morgan Sette

Property manager Julie Seed, 38, died at the Plympton scene on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

Mr Dunk, who had been subject to an inpatient treatment order, had been receiving treatment for a mental health condition at the Royal Adelaide Hospital before he was discharged on December 18.

Two days later, he allegedly stabbed two women at a Plympton real estate office. Property manager Julie Seed, 38, died at the scene.

Asked three times on Thursday whether the system had failed in this case, Mr Picton each time referred to the review.

“Clearly we need the review. I think it is important that, when we see a shocking thing like this, that the government takes steps to make sure that we independently review all the facts, we will release the findings of that work publicly,” he said.

“We have a complete willingness to make any changes whatsoever if they are identified in this case.”

Mr Picton said Premier Peter Malinauskas has asked the state’s Victims’ Rights Commissioner, Sarah Quick, to ensure that every possible support is offered to Ms Seed’s family.

That could include covering the cost of a funeral and flying relatives to Adelaide from overseas.

Opposition mental health and suicide prevention spokeswoman Penny Pratt said Ms Seed’s murder “shines a light on our embattled health system”.

“There are serious questions that must be answered,” she said.

“How did this happen? Who let it happen? And how do we prevent another family from suffering this heartbreak again?” Asked by The Advertiser if Adelaide was a safe city, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said “further and better reporting” of crime raised visibility of the most shocking crimes, which could “shake people’s confidence in community safety”.

Acknowledging changes in some crime statistics, he said these had not “reached a fundamentally higher level”.

Julie 'Julez' Seed pictured with her fiance Chris Smith. Picture: Supplied

But he said rising living costs had fuelled more incidents of robbery and burglary.

“I think it’s people’s perception and understanding. I also think when we’re at a time people are really feeling the pinch with their budgets. Traditionally, when money is tight for people, often there can be more incidents of robbery and burglary,” he said.

“We often, unfortunately, see that in retail outlets or petrol stations and so on. But I think if there’s any silver lining from that (it) is that the police are responding.

“They are putting more resources onto the front line. We’re supporting them with additional funding to do that, and they’ll continue to strive to keep the community safe.”

Opposition Leader David Speirs said “there’s clearly now a pattern emerging around crime in South Australia”.

“We know that the stats are showing that, across a range of different types of crime, there have been significant rises, particularly around home invasions and shoplifting,” he said.

“But, across the board, we’re seeing crime rising. This demands an urgent response from the government. It is as simple as that.”