The Chair of Mental Health Australia has resigned because the labor government has failed to take sufficient action on mental health policy.
The Australian Greens agree that the government is failing people in Australia when it comes to proactive policies that would improve our communities’ mental health.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson for Health:
“We are experiencing a mental health crisis in this country – the former chair of Mental Health Australia knows it, our community knows it, but Labor does not seem to care.
“This month we’ve seen the Labor government choose to provide billions in handouts to weapons companies, instead of investing in our community and expanding mental health care available through Medicare.
“We need to see Labor reverse their decision to reduce the number of better access scheme sessions and commit to return to 20 mental healthcare sessions.
“In the cost of living crisis we’re experiencing there should be no out-of-pocket costs for people accessing mental health care in this country. It is unacceptable that people are in a situation where they need to ration their healthcare because of the cost.
“This is beyond crisis point. The Federal Government must explore ways for people to get affordable mental health care, including expanding the range of mental healthcare professionals that offer services through Medicare.”