Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this condolence motion and to express my sympathies to those families who have lost loved ones in the recent natural disasters that have afflicted many Australians across the nation. Many of my colleagues have paid tribute to the efforts of so many to help with the recovery across Australia and with ongoing problems such as those of river communities in my own state of New South Wales. I would like to associate myself with those remarks.

In my contribution this evening, I would like to focus on the mental health aspects of these disasters. Whilst for many the immediate anguish has been very hard, the presence of so many volunteers and helpers has made the task less confronting. However, when everyone is gone and the cold reality of the long haul back is faced, that is when, for many, it will be much harder. I pay tribute to those working on the ground and around the clock providing psychological and emotional support to families and individuals after the devastation, including to the State Emergency Service, Lifeline, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the St Vincent de Paul Society. For example, Lifeline counsellors are working with individuals and families affected by the floods in order to help them establish their own personal recovery plans. These plans will guide people in how to recover. The dedication and passion of so many to help is inspiring. Professor Patrick McGorry has been asked by Queensland Health to visit flood affected areas to assist mental health teams dealing with the traumatised victims of these floods.

I would like to thank and recognise the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who, in the true tradition of the great Australian military, have also been working around the clock to render assistance and support after the various disasters. This follows a long tradition of assistance rendered by the military after similar disasters. My husband, who served in the Royal Australian Navy, well remembers Boxing Day 1974 when, as a serving naval officer on HMAS Melbourne, he and the rest of the crew were recalled from Christmas leave to sail for Darwin after Cyclone Tracy. The Melbourne departed on Boxing Day, crash-sailing from Sydney, carrying vital supplies to assist in what became known as Operation Navy Help Darwin. John recalls arriving on New Year’s Day to utter devastation. HMAS Melbourne was the first aid to arrive in Darwin after Cyclone Tracy and, in the weeks that followed, her crew worked hard at the recovery effort. Indeed this is one of the proud traditions of our military.

Much has been said of the stoicism and resilience of those communities hit by disasters, but even those of greatest fortitude face difficulties in coping. It is vital that services be available to help people to share their feelings and to help them recover. Some may be ready to do so now; some may take some time. It is important that someone be there for them when they are ready to open up and talk about their experiences. Returning to normality is vitally important. To do so involves accepting the support of people who care, taking the time to be with close family and friends and expressing your needs clearly and honestly to family, friends and those in helping professions. But, for many of those in disaster affected communities who do not have families, it may be even harder, because they do not have children and loved ones around them to talk to and share their emotions with. It is maybe much harder to look after yourself in such circumstances. This is especially so for the many more Australians living on their own these days and most particularly for older Australians living on their own. The effect on their self-esteem and confidence will be even more devastating.

From the coalition’s perspective, we are keen to ensure that mental health services remain available in disaster areas, not only to deal with the here and now but most especially to deal with the afterwards, when the immediate focus of media and public attention begins to fade. As people go through the remainder of their lives, they may come across an old photograph or a small memento, and the emotion will overwhelm them. These will be the hardest of times. As I have said to my colleagues, the mental health issue will be one of the issues that will long remain after the physical clean-up is over. As Senator Ryan just reminded us in relation to the fires in Victoria, when everybody and all the help has long gone, it will be very much that emotional resilience and the emotional remnants of the disaster that will still be with people.

I note the announcement by Minister Butler, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, of extra funding for flood affected Australians under the Access to Allied Psychological Services initiative. This is encouraging, given that this government has been taking money out of mental health. Indeed at the last budget, with no warning, Minister Roxon, the Minister for Health and Ageing, announced that social workers and occupational therapists would no longer be able to provide Medicare funded services under the Better Access initiative. There was no consultation with the sector, just an arbitrary decision.

As I have travelled around Australia since becoming shadow minister for mental health it has become very clear in many regional and rural areas that the only access people get to mental health support is from social workers and occupational therapists. Thanks to pressure from social workers and occupational therapists and from the coalition at estimates, in November 2010 we saw yet another classic Minister Roxon backdown. After finally consulting with the sector, the initiative was reinstated. Given the current situation, I am sure that many will need to avail themselves of these services, especially those in the regional and rural areas affected by the disasters.

Disasters like floods, drought and cyclones are part of the history of our great country. Sadly, some of these have been fatal. Many of my colleagues have reminded us of past disasters in our great country. While today is not the time to focus on inappropriate remarks, the recent efforts of the Greens cannot but be condemned. Sadly, though, they are true to form. Senator Brown did not think it was too soon to blame global warming for the deadly Black Saturday fires in Victoria in 2009, when, while the fires were still burning, there he was on Sky News pontificating that:

Global warming is predicted to make this sort of event happen 25 per cent, 50 per cent more.

True to form, Senator Brown did not think it was too soon, with bodies yet to be recovered and funeral services yet to take place, to blame coal miners for the Queensland floods. He stated:

It’s the single biggest cause—burning coal—for climate change and it must take its major share of responsibility for the weather events we are seeing unfolding now.

And, most recently, the ABC reported Senator Milne’s bold assertion that Tropical Cyclone Yasi was caused by climate change when she stated:

This is a tragedy, but it is a tragedy of climate change.

As I indicated, I do not wish to dwell on these remarks today. Suffice to say that, in the middle of such tragic circumstances, this sort of political opportunism is totally inappropriate.

In conclusion, we must hope and pray that those affected by these terrible events receive whatever assistance they need, wherever they find themselves living —in their own home, if it is still standing—in the months and years ahead. I support the motion moved by Senator Conroy.