Government slammed for inaction on The Gap

CHANTAL ABITBOL

NSW SHADOW Minister for Mental Health Kevin Humphries has slammed the NSW government for failing to support a safety project at one of Sydney’s most notorious suicide spots, The Gap.

His comments come after he recently met with Jewish mother and activist Dianne Gaddin, who has been campaigning for years to upgrade the Watson’s Bay cliff-top lookout where her daughter, Tracy took her life in 2005.

It is believed about 50 people take their own lives at the spot each year.

But despite Gaddin’s pleas for safety upgrades – such as surveillance cameras, security lighting, safety phone and an anti-climb barrier – the government has steadfastly refused to pick up the $2.6 million shortfall after Woollahra Council set aside $500,000 for the project last year.

“I don’t see why they can’t commit, at the very least match the figure put up by Woollahra Council. It’s obvious their priorities are wrong,” Humphries told The AJN this week.

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, whose electorate includes The Gap site, also expressed his frustration.

“I am deeply concerned about the inability to find suitable funding for the necessary upgrades. The suicide prevention project is an important step in reducing suicide rates in Australia,” he said.

NSW Minister Assisting the Minister for Health Barbara Perry failed to return calls when contacted by The AJN.

Gaddin said she believed party politics were holding the project back.

“They are behaving worse than children because The Gap is in a Liberal seat,” she said. “Unless I continue to drive this forward, the Government will sit back and do nothing.”

Meanwhile, the deaths continue. Last month on July 3, a Jewish man in his late 30s took his own life at the site.