Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question, and acknowledge her very sincere interest in this issue. In relation to the specific analysis, I will take that on notice for the senator. But broadly, this government—like everybody, I believe, in this chamber—has an absolute commitment to ensuring we get the delivery of mental health services right. Indeed, that was why, after the review, the minister took the steps she did to change the policy settings that we had in place around delivery of support for mental health, from what had previously been, as I think many in this chamber would know, support directed from Canberra. What we have seen now is $371 million go out through the Primary Health Networks to ensure that we can address these issues of mental health from a regional perspective—so we can get away from the silo mentality, and move towards a much better targeted regional delivery of mental health care.

There is no doubt that we have seen an increase in the instances of mental illness. Some of the discussion around that is it is now something that is much more in the public awareness as an issue that is affecting many, many Australians. So I can certainly indicate to the senator, on behalf of the minister responsible, that this is something that the government will take very, very seriously and continue to take very seriously, and we will ensure we have policies in place to address those people that are in need.