Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I do not accept the proposition that was put in that question. The government have committed $1.8 billion to regional health infrastructure through this area. The government's mental health pack­age delivers substantial new investment in mental health. We recognise mental health is a key priority and we have made room in what has, quite frankly, been a tough budget for significant new investment. We are doing this because we know that mental health is the largest single cause of disability in our community, and untreated mental illness has negative and lasting impacts on the individual, their family and the broader community.

This budget includes $1.5 billion over five years in new investments as a first step towards longer-term reform. That takes the government's total new investment to $2.2 billion, which includes the elements. So that is the expenditure that we are putting in this area. But, in terms of the broader area, let us not forget Mr Abbott's mental health policy for the election was fully funded from $1.5 billion worth of cuts from the health port­folio. This includes cuts to GP services and e-health, both of which are important avenues for mental health services. And when Mr Abbott announced his most recent, $430 million, package he repeatedly refused to say how they will fund it without an unfunded promise of $430 million.

Mental health requires long-term reform. That is why, to overcome years of underinvestment— (Time expired)