Peter Andren (Calare, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. The Urbis Keyes Young report, set up by the minister’s department into the Link Up program and counselling services made available to the stolen generation, has listed the consequences of Indigenous removal policies as loss, trauma, grief, offending behaviour, adverse life outcomes, substance abuse, high rates of mental health problems, suicide and violence, parenting problems and poor physical health. Minister, while the report says that those working to overcome the situation are doing a good job with positive outcomes, many counsellors are struggling with more than 80 clients each, compared with the average case load for a mental health worker in mainstream services of 25. Minister, what can be done to urgently improve the government response to the needs of the stolen generation, a response described in the report as ‘poorly coordinated and insufficiently targeted’?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Calare for his question. All members of this House would broadly share his concerns. The issues raised in this report are important issues. I think that the issue of the heavy case load borne by these counsellors is something that does need to be addressed. The government will be making an announcement on this very point on Thursday.