On 23rd of September 2008 history was made in Australian politics when Dr Graham Jacobs was sworn in as the first Western Australian Minister appointed to the newly created Mental Health portfolio. He was also appointed Minister for Water in the Liberal-National Government.

Dr Jacobs comes from a rural health background, attending school in Esperance and then graduating from The University of Western Australia as a doctor in 1975.

Soon after, he returned to Esperance where he established his 30 Year career as a country GP cementing his credentials as a primary care giver to the community.

Graham Jacobs accepted the privilege granted by his constituents in 2005 to serve in the Western Australian Parliament as firstly Member for Roe and then as Member for Eyre.

During his time both as a country Member of Parliament and a Minister in an area which is predominantly farming and mining communities, Dr Jacobs has further developed his interest in water.

Dr Jacobs sees security and sustainability of the WA water supply as a fundamental responsibility of the State Government. In response to this commitment the Minister will soon release his water directions paper which determines the underpinning principles and priorities in relation to water resources and services for the next 3-4 years. The principles are:

• efficient and effective management and use of all water resources
• securing reliable water supplies in a drying climate
• supporting growth and development of the state.

To achieve these principles the Minister has set a number of priority actions to be delivered over the next three to four years under the areas of:

• water recycling;
• water use efficiency;
• salinity recovery and catchment management;
• water supply and services; and
• efficient water resource and services management by government.

In June 2009 in response to the third driest start to the year on record the Minister announced that there would be a total winter sprinkler ban to protect the ever diminishing resource. The ban was a resounding success with over 90% of the community supporting the initiative.

In addition earlier this year the Minister announced the signing of the Southern Seawater Alliance Project which will provide the Perth with an extra $50 Gl of drinking water by 2011 and will see an infrastructure investment of nearly $1billion in the South West.

In relation to the mining industry the Minister has recently released the Pilbara Water Pre-Feasibility Study. The pre-feasibility study identified potential water supplies from mine dewatering and bore fields, and highlighted the demands of industry, ports and towns. It also attempted to link the two.

The Minister has also directed the commissioning of an independent review into reducing the salinity levels in the Collie Basin. This review will provide recommendations to Government in relation to the concepts which could be developed in the region to assist in the development future investment opportunities.

Graham expresses his passion to improve mental health based on his background as a country GP.

"When you're a country GP you soon realise that you have greater needs placed on you because support services that you take for granted in the city just don't exist or are not as freely available in the country."

"Mental Health support facilities have for years been lacking in regional WA with the only option being Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) transfer to Graylands in Perth, away from their home, friends and family. To a person at this most vulnerable time the distance from home can and does add to the problem.

"I have always believed we needed a fresh approach to the care of people with mental health requirements and as a priority we need to be able to keep people in the community, and supported accommodation is one of the key factors in this being achieved."

The Liberal National Government will continue to have this as a priority focus, I have recently launched a comprehensive Western Australian Suicide Prevention Strategy with an action plan in place to ensure metropolitan and country regions will have qualified people available to de-escalate issues that may be affecting troubled people.

"There will always be a need for a medicated period in the treatment of some mental health patients, but when that phase of their treatment is completed then we need to focus on treating them as people so as to ease and assist them back into their lives and the community.

"The stigma and even discrimination associated with mental health is one of the greatest barriers we will face but working together we can and are breaking down that wall brick by brick."

The Minister has five children and has played a major role in the development of his electorate both from a personal and professional perspective.