THE WA Government has been accused of wasting money on relocating the Mental Health Commission’s offices while failing to open additional beds for youth mental health patients.

The Government said it cost almost $7 million relocating and refitting the new premises including $130,000 for 300 chairs which cost $450 each and needed training on how to use them. 41 staff completed the training.

The Government also admitted, through questioning in Parliament, that it didn’t have enough funds to open six new beds for young people with chronic mental health issues at Fiona Stanley Hospital since the facility opened more than a year ago.

Camera Icon Mental Health Minister Andrea Mitchell. Credit: Supplied, Simon Santi.

But in a media response provided to PerthNow this afternoon, Mental Health Minister Andrea Mitchell explained that the relocation only put the Government $220,000 out of pocket for the $6.1m fitout because of a special deal on the lease, with the landlord covering much of the refurbishment cost.

“In negotiating the lease for the new premises, the MHC was able to achieve a lease incentive that was used to cover 96 per cent of the cost of fit out for the new location, which was a new building with no fit out.,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Of the estimated total $6.1m fitout cost, only around $220,000 has been funded by the government.

“The landlord funded around $5.8m of the fitout, including chairs, furniture, workstations, storage and so on.

“In addition, the negotiated lease rate is highly competitive and, combined with the virtually free fitout, represents exceptional value for money.”

She said the Commission’s relocation was due to the expiry of its previous lease in East Perth.

The $6.1m figure Ms Mitchell provided for the fit out cost varies from the “total relocation and fit out” cost estimate she provided to Parliament, which was $6,906,313.99.

A spokeswoman for Ms Mitchell further explained that the $6.1m figure did not include removalist costs, IT equipment and other costs. Also, a consultancy fee of $293,535.99 was paid to Hasell Pty Ltd.

She said training for how to use the chairs was provided free of charge.

Opposition Mental Health spokesman Stephen Dawson said the excessive relocation budget for the new offices at 1 Nash Street in Perth was “scandalous”.

“The Mental Health Minister confirmed that six of the 30 new and long-promised mental health beds at Fiona Stanley Hospital haven’t opened because they’ve essentially run out of money for the year,” Mr Dawson said.

“Yet at the same time the government have squandered almost $7 million on a new office and fitout for the Mental Health Commission, including over $130,000 for the purchase of new chairs and training for all staff to use the chairs.

Camera Icon Labor’s Stephen Dawson. Credit: Supplied

“This is another case of the Barnett Government’s wrong priorities.

“The Minister for Mental Health needs to explain why people with a mental illness are facing significant delays to access vital services yet her agency is wasting taxpayer dollars on new chairs and on consultants to teach staff how to use them.”

The annual rent for the new office is $1.86 million.

Ms Mitchell said the commission’s 2016-17 budget would deliver funding for dedicated youth and adolescent mental health beds at Perth Children’s Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital.

“With these beds, the Government (will) double the number of dedicated youth and adolescent mental health beds in WA to 40 since elected in 2008,” Ms Mitchell said.

Meanwhile Ms Mitchell and Health Minister John Day today announced WA’s second Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA) will start soon at Joondalup Health Campus, with a $5.1 million project funding allocation in the 2016-17 State Budget.

Mr Day said the 10-bed facility would improve the care of mentally ill patients presenting to Joondalup’s Emergency Department (ED).

He said the new unit would be modelled on the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, which recorded more than 2,600 admissions during its first two years of operation.