Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Farrell. We're currently living through a mental healthcare crisis, with closed books and long waitlists. The crisis is even more acute in rural and regional Australia. Last year, Tasmanians were twice as likely as their mainland counterparts to claim the Medicare rebate for an initial psychiatry appointment via telehealth. Tasmanians rely on telehealth to see a psychiatrist more than people in any other state or territory. Does the minister agree that telehealth services are vitally important in helping manage the current healthcare crisis, especially for people in regional areas like Tasmania?