Gladys Liu (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There is no doubt that young Australians have done it tough over the past two years. Whether it's an 18th birthday party, travelling with mates or schoolies week, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that so many of our young people have missed out on what many Australians regard as significant milestones and rights of passage. Lockdown restrictions have also caused major disruptions to education and training, and resulted in fewer opportunities to find employment in sectors that traditionally employ many young people. It is little surprise that so many young Australians have reported high levels of psychological distress and a worsening of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of the Australian government's highest priorities, and young Australians, in particular, continue to be a focus of our investment in mental health. We want them to receive the help, support and care they need, where and when they need it, so that they can reach their full potential. In the 2021-22 budget the government is investing a record $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform. This is the largest federal government mental health investment in Australia's history.

A key feature of the plan is the investment of $1.4 billion in high-quality and person centred treatment, including $820 million for a national network of mental health centres for adults, youth and children through the Head to Health and headspace programs. Headspace is the government's flagship program for the provision of mental health services to young people aged 12 to 25. With the opening of headspace Syndal, in my electorate of Chisholm, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact of this program at a local level.

On the economic front, too, young Australians have every reason to feel optimistic as we emerge and recover from the pandemic faster than even the most bullish forecasts. The Morrison government's economic recovery plan—which includes our JobMaker hiring credit, the JobTrainer fund, the supporting apprenticeships and trainees wage subsidy, the boosting apprenticeship commencements wage subsidy, the Transition to Work program, Industry Training Hubs, the Youth Jobs PaTH program and many more—has contributed to cushioning the effects of the pandemic. The youth unemployment rate fell by 0.6 per cent over the month, to 17.5 per cent in October 2021, and it's below the 19.2 per cent recorded in March 2020.

Furthermore, whilst Labor talks about the rise in the unemployment rate over the month of October, they've neglected, as usual, to consider the context of the nearly 60,000 youths who entered the Labor market over the month, pushing the youth participation rate up from 64.3 per cent in September to 66.4 per cent in October. Labor can continue to spout misunderstandings of these statistics and spread its negative message. We'll just get on with the job of delivering for Australians. Yes, it has been tough for our young people, as it has been for many Australians, but there is reason for hope. Our economy is resilient, and the Morrison government will continue to back Australians in as we secure our recovery.

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