Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government is strongly committed to improving mental health services for all Australians. The Australian government provides access to counselling and psychological services through a range of programs which allow GPs to refer patients who have been diagnosed as having a mental disorder to an allied health professional.

While the government understands the work that the Sisters of Charity undertake in the community, unfortunately we are unable to provide a continuation of funding under the current arrangements. The funding was provided as a one-off, and assistance has been provided to the Sisters of Charity to identify future funding sources.

The Prime Minister has stated that mental health will be a second term priority, and, on top of funding for mental health under the MBS and PBS, funding for mental health specific programs in the period between 2010-11 and 2013-14 will nearly triple, to $1.4 billion, compared to $516.3 million provided between 2004-05 and 2007-08.

Question agreed to.