Ho ERALD Volume 31 N 28 Your local, INDEPENDENT newspaper 41 Cliff Street, Fremantle Saturday July 11, 2020 Letterboxed: Beaconsfield, Hilton, O’Connor, Samson, Sth Beach (North Coogee) and Sth Fremantle Ph: 9430 7727 Fax 9430 7726 www.fremantleherald.com Street Press: Fremantle, East Fremantle, North Fremantle Email: [email protected] Cockburn fesses up to inquiry Months after we asked
for ratepayers. by JUSTIN STAHL When directly asked and STEVE GRANT by the Herald on April 23 if it was being subjected HOT on the heels of the to an inquiry, Cockburn explosive inquiry into refused to answer, but it a ‘poorly led, divided has now emerged it had and...dysfunctional’ City already received an email of Perth, the bizarrely from the local government secretive machinations of department a week earlier Cockburn council could announcing just that. • Mental health advocate Taryn Harvey (right), Fremantle councillor Rachel Pemberton and mayor Brad Pettitt. Photo by Steve Grant be blown open by a new The council waited two state government probe. months until June 24 - just as Western Australians The council has now were celebrating the quietly admitted it too is further easing of Covid-19 under investigation by restrictions that would see State whacked over WA’s local government pubs reopen - to announce, department following a in a tiny notice in the news series of extraordinary section of its website, that scandals which included: an inquiry had been called. • its former CEO being In the notice, the city funding priorities stood down on full pay for claims to have no idea what six months, then sacked, the enquiry is about, stating pushed onto Fremantle’s Herald outside the Alma community support.” after claiming his workplace by STEVE GRANT it had “not been provided streets. Street wing of the hospital. Ms Harvey, a former City was unsafe; with any details as to the THE peak body for WA “To give it a big picture, “We cannot keep of Vincent councillor, said • councillors suing each number of complaints, what we know our mental health investing in acute clinical about a quarter of patients other over defamation; • Continued page 3 mental health community • a former deputy services and Fremantle system is out of whack,” services without matching in the state’s mental health Taryn Harvey told the that with funding for • Continued page 3 mayor being suspended mayor Brad Pettitt have after refusing to abide by warned a proposed new an order to apologise to a mental health hub could colleague; Willing lead to a surge of anti- • the mayor, two social behaviour in the councillors and the CEO’s $24.4 million hub acting replacement facing walkers city. a Fair Work Commission Earlier this week the THE McGowan psychiatric and geriatric Mental Health minister investigation into McGowan government government will spend patients. Roger Cook said: “These allegations they’d bullied wanted announced another 20- $24.4 million expanding Along with a 20-bed additional 20 beds at the former CEO; bed mental health unit at Help keep your ‘hood Fremantle’s mental secure mental health unit Fremantle Hospital will • a series of secretive Fremantle Hospital, but the informed and earn some announced last year, it will ensure access to safe, “special meetings” with head of the WA Association health capacity by 20 pocket money along the turn Fremantle into a 104- high-quality mental health a phalanx of expensive for Mental Health said beds. way by delivering your bed mental health ‘hub’. inpatient care and further lawyers; and, unless it’s matched by Announced earlier this favourite independent As part of the funding, assist in delivering timely • the council so tied support for community week, the new unit will newspaper. If you live in existing hospital buildings care to our most vulnerable in knots that its monthly services it won’t solve include a 10-bed older adult Coogee, Port Coogee or will be refurbished and patients.” debate over the relatively the state’s mental health neurological behavioural Spearwood, we may have redeveloped. The $24m funding is only benign “statement of “crisis” and see more people unit to explore a shared a round for you. Call Liz on The unit is expected to for the capital costs financial activity” on June 11 with unmanaged illnesses model of care between 9430 7727. open in 2023. • Continued page 3 being deemed too sensitive Celebrating the values you treasure most
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Page 2 - The Herald, Saturday July 11, 2020 www.fremantleherald.com YOUR WEEKLY WASTE REDUCTION Funding whack & RECYCLING TIPS • From page 1 facilities didn’t need to be Reducing your waste there, but there had been so Freo gets $24m hub • For cleaning products buy or refill at bulk little investment in housing and food stores or try making your own. preventative measure there was • From page 1 expanding its mental health no other option. of the expansion, and Mr capability to a major regional Recycling tip “Five years ago the WA Cook’s office says recurrent hub was “not inconsistent” • Remove lids before putting containers in your government developed a 10- costs such as staffing will be with the group’s ideas. Recycling bin. All metal lids (regardless of size), and year plan which outlined the determined closer to when it Ms McGurk said the opens. redevelopment plans had been plastic lids 5cm or more, go in the Recycling bin too. optimal mix of acute clinical Greenbatch (www.greenbatch.com) take plastic lids services and preventative Fremantle MLA Simone slow to progress as there was community services, and it McGurk said the beds meant no “support dollars attached”, smaller than 5cm for recycling. Otherwise, put small was a very robust plan that locals with mental health but it also needed to be tied to plastic lids in your General Waste bin. was connected to the national issues could access care closer Fremantle council’s plans to framework,” Ms Harvey said. to their homes and loved ones. redevelop Fremantle Oval. Want to know more? “It had bipartisan support, “We know that there is Those plans may also need See the Recycle Right website at recycleright.wa.gov.au/a-z for detailed and strong support across huge demand for mental a major rejig, with Ms McGurk advice regarding recycling and disposing of household waste. Also the sector, and premier Mark health services across the confirming the government available as an app – free to download from Apple and Google Play. McGowan says they are community,” Ms McGurk said. was considering building its committed to it.” “Ensuring that there are new Fremantle police station Brought to you by the WREN, a group of volunteers under the umbrella of the But Ms Harvey said while it inpatient services available is on the old Stan Reilly aged Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC), which promotes the importance of recommended that 5 per cent of an important way to better our care site next door. The council waste reduction, good recycling practices and sustainable living in the community. the state’s mental health budget mental health system.” currently controls the site - be set aside for preventative Ms McGurk has been which is a car park until the initiatives, that figure was heading up a working group redevelopment goes ahead - currently about 1 per cent. with Fremantle council over but it’s only via a vesting order It also recommended 22 per the redevelopment of unused from the state government cent be set aside for community land at the hospital, and says which can take it back. support, but she says that’s hovering around 5 per cent. mix was correct. “We see ourselves as a very Crisis Dr Pettitt, said the council welcoming city, but there has had repeatedly raised this issue to be proper wrap-around She said by the time people with the government through a services,” Dr Pettitt said. needed acute services they were range of forums but hadn’t see “People with severe mental already in crisis, and without much improvement; he didn’t health issues unmanaged in the adequate community support even get advance warning about streets of Freo has a big impact to help them stay on track with the hub, saying he read about it on community safety team and their recovery, they simply via an email. the police.” “churned” through the health system. Ms Harvey warned that the Covid-19 pandemic would exacerbate the problem, which seemed to have been lost on the Cockburn probe McGowan government. “There has been some work From page 1 online. Councillors Lee- over east to predict the impact the complaints were about, Anne Smith and Kevin Allen of Covid on people’s mental the timeframe that the declared impartiality interests. health, but I am not aware of complaints cover, or Mr Murphy was also our government doing anything which areas of council’s specifically requested to understand that. operations they related to”. by Department of Local “We can’t just keep telling Government director general people to call Lifeline.” But just a day after Warwick Agnew to attend Ms Harvey said WAAMH receiving the department’s another closed meeting on had taken part in the email, the council held May 14 “during discussion government’s mental health another behind-closed- and consideration of the Covid taskforce, but she said doors meeting to discuss a proceedings behind closed they “didn’t want to hear “confidential staff matter” doors” but for unknown about systemic problems” but which was attended by reasons he wasn’t there; quick fixes which could be Ron Murphy, the manager perhaps the 12.27am finish implemented. of the local government time was a deterrent. She fears that if the hub department’s “investigations This time there were three pushes more people onto and assessment unit”; he confidential items, with one COMPLETE DENTURE & MOUTHGUARD SERVICE Fremantle’s streets with conducted the inquiry into matter only decided following Health Fund Preferred Provider & Veterans Affairs unmanaged mental health Melville last year. a casting vote of mayor Come and see Mark at Spearwood Denture issues, it will reinforce the The meeting was conducted Logan Howlett and the usual negative stigma they still face. via video conference and procedural tick-off at the end Professionals to have your new Partial or Full “We’re happy these days councillors were instructed of the meeting that everything Dentures expertly hand crafted to give you a to talk about depression and to confirm their locations had been “managed efficiently smile you can be confi dent to show off again. were “safe and secure for anxiety, but the stigma in other and effectively”, only just We can also: areas is not being addressed.” the purposes of ensuring getting up with a 5/4 vote. • Reline your current denture Ms Harvey wants to see the integrity of the meeting Those who weren’t convinced Don’t hide your smile better co-ordination of services procedures”, even being told included councillors Michael • Same day repairs any longer. Bring this in the mega Communities to turn off their mobile phones Separovich, Phoebe Corke, • Professionally clean your dentures department, and said some and other electronic devices. Chamonix Terblanche and • Custom made sport mouthguards advertisement in to receive were calling for the old area co- As soon as the e-meeting Chontelle Stone. Mr Howlett 10% off the balance of ordinator roles to be reinstated. went ‘behind closed doors’ was supported by his Phone Janeen or Mark on 9418 5788 Ms Harvey and Dr Pettitt at 7.48pm, even the official deputy Lara Kirkwood and to arrange an appointment for your free, any treatment! both stressed they welcomed minute taker had to leave, councillors Kevin Allen, Lee- no obligation quote or drop in & see us at though three lawyers from the investment at the hospital, Anne Smith and Philip Eva to 3/235 Rockingham Road, Spearwood STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS but simply wanted to ensure the Jackson McDonald stayed get it passed. 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Call 1300 998 100 | Visit regis.com.au/restwithregis www.fremantleherald.com The Herald, Saturday July 11, 2020 - Page 3 fm herald letters
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