State Government under fire over mental health centre promise

Question Time has been dominated by queries over an apparent promise to Speaker Sue Hickey for a 50-bed rehab centre.

Premier Will Hodgman addresses state parliament this morning.

Premier Will Hodgman has accused the Labor Opposition of having nothing to contribute to the debate on mental health.

Argument over an apparent promise for a mental health, alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre in greater Hobart dominated a rowdy session of Question Time in state parliament today.

Speaker Sue Hickey said she had extracted a promise from the Government to build a 50-bed rehabilitation centre after being frozen out of a ministerial reshuffle and threatening to leave the Liberal Party.

Sue Hickey. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms Hickey yesterday appeared to back away from the demands, issuing a joint press release with Mental Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff, saying the same result may be achieved by other means.

In state parliament this morning, Labor leader Rebecca White said the centre was clearly not going to be built.

Opposition leader Rebecca White.

“Who misled the Tasmanian community, was it the member of Clark, or was it you? [Mr Hodgman]”

Mr Hodgman accused the opposition of failing to offer suggestions of its own.

“I totally reject, as I so often have to do, never more than now, the claims made by the Leader of the Opposition,” he said.

“It demonstrates the utter lack of substance. The only game in town under Bec White is to play games and create mischief.”