Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

All right. I thank the shadow minister for her questions. I am delighted to be asked questions about mental health because, as she would know, mental health is my primary area of responsibility as the parliamentary secretary. I think the government has a very good story to tell about the mental health package in this budget. I am happy to answer her questions. I do not think any of them go to secrets that cannot be revealed. If it will assist her in promoting and supporting the government’s mental health package, then I am very happy to oblige.

As to the lead agency responsible for implementing the mental health package, there are a number of government departments that are responsible for different aspects. So, when the shadow minister says the funding is about $1 billion, it is just over $1 billion for Health and Ageing. But of course the whole package is worth about $1.9 billion and it is spread across a number of departments. FaCSIA’s role is one of the largest in the mental health package but DEWR also has a role. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet forms a large part of the discussions that are going on about how to implement the package. The Department of Health and Ageing obviously has a major role in implementing the package. We are working closely with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as one would expect us to do, because the Prime Minister has a particular stake in this package through the COAG process. He has been leading the mental health reforms in Australia. The Commonwealth government was the first government to put its package on the table. We expect the states to respond generously and we hope they will match the $1.9 billion.

The Prime Minister has a large interest in how this program is rolled out and how this money is spent. This was discussed in February at COAG and will be discussed again in July at COAG. I note that Victoria and New South Wales have put some new money on the table, but it is a long way short of what one would expect if one were providing $1.9 billion pro rata across the states. The New South Wales government has attempted to pretend that it has matched the funding at the Commonwealth level, but a large part of the expenditure that New South Wales has announced is a restatement of previous announcements, and Victoria is the same. One would have to say that at least they are trying, whereas in the Queensland budget last week there was not one extra dollar for mental health. They have made no attempt at all to match the Commonwealth’s very generous package. South Australia’s budget will not be handed down until September. That has been delayed, and they have shown a real lack of understanding of how the process works. It will be discussed again at COAG.

In terms of the coordination of the states, I think I have answered that question: it has been coordinated through the COAG process. In July the national mental health action plan that was discussed in January will hopefully be signed off by the Commonwealth with all states and territories. We would expect all of those states and territories to make real commitments of dollars on the table for the mentally ill. I do not think the commencement dates of the various programs are a secret, and I am happy to tell the shadow minister. New early intervention services for parents, children and young people, at $28.1 million over five years, are expected to commence on 1 July 2006. The new funding for mental health nurses, the nursing care and support services, commences from July 2007, with a funding commitment of $191.6 million over five years. Improving the capacity of health workers in Indigenous communities, which is $20.8 million over five years, begins on 1 July 2006. Support for day-to-day living in the community, which is $46 million over five years, begins on 1 July 2006. Better access to psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Scheme begins on 1 November 2006 and is expected to cost $538 million over five years. (Time expired)

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