Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Is the minister aware that Professor John Mendoza, in his letter of resignation as the Rudd government’s chief adviser on mental health, stated:

It is now abundantly clear that there is no vision or commitment from the Rudd Government to mental health … The Rudd Government is publicly claiming credit for the increased investment in mental health when almost all of this is a consequence of the work of the Howard Government.

In view of the condemnation of the Rudd government’s inaction on mental health by its own hand-picked principal adviser—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just wait a minute, Senator Boyce. You are entitled to be heard in silence.

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. In view of the condemnation by the Rudd government’s own hand-picked principal adviser, how can the minister deny that the Rudd government is more focused on spin than substance when it comes to mental health?

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

I thank Senator Boyce for her question. I know she has an ongoing interest in this area, and it was disappointing to see the spin in the last part of the question. The government thanks Professor Mendoza for his services as chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health over the last few years. The government appreciates the advice he has provided us during his time and his strong commitment to improving mental health services in our community. We agree with Professor Mendoza that there is much more work to be done in improving mental health services in Australia. The Prime Minister, Minister Roxon and I have made that clear on a number of occasions.

However, the minister and I do reject Professor Mendoza’s assertion that the government has no commitment to mental health. The structural reforms agreed to as part of the historic COAG agreement in April this year, particularly in primary care, lay a strong foundation for further reform in mental health. The 2010 budget includes $175 million for mental health services, focusing on improving services for young people through new investments and programs such as headspace. This is entirely consistent with the national advisory council’s recommendations. Of course, we do wish Professor Mendoza well in his future endeavours, but the government is doing proactive work in mental health. The government is committed to ensuring Australia has a sustainable and effective mental health system. As I indicated, $175.8 million was announced in the budget to improve our mental health system— (Time expired)

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is the minister also aware of comments about the mental health system made by the Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, who stated:

The system is absolutely on its knees … We have a famine-like situation and the mental health system is getting the scraps from the table.

If the minister can reject the comments of this outstanding mental health expert, what steps are the government taking to fix this appalling situation?

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education and School Curriculum Standards) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mason interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I remind senators on both sides that shouting across the chamber is disorderly and does not allow us to proceed.

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

This government—and I mentioned this in my answer to the first question—is committed to ensuring Australia has a sustainable and effective mental health system. Quite frankly, we call on the opposition to in fact look at our record and agree that we have made significant commitments in this area. The $175.8 million announced in the budget to improve our mental health system now includes $78.4 million over four years to deliver up to 30 new headspace sites around Australia. It provides—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

The opposition do not want to listen to our record. All they want to do is harp, when they took $1 billion of the health system—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig, resume your seat. If senators want to argue about this, after question time is the appropriate time.

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

We also expanded the telephone and web based support for services to young people. This will provide support for an additional 20,000 young Australians each year. It is an important initiative. It is disappointing that the opposition (a) do not want to hear it and— (Time expired)

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the minister aware that the present Minister for Health and Ageing told the national mental health conference before the 2007 federal election that the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, had put mental health ‘high on his personal agenda of issues’? Don’t the statements of Professor Mendoza and Professor McGorry show that mental health has now, like the CPRS and restrictions on government advertising, joined the long line of government empty rhetoric— (Time expired)

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

Quite frankly, the opposition have not been listening to our excellent record on providing assistance to this area of need. The government are committed to providing health. We have $58.4 million over four years which we directed to deliver care packages to better support up to 25,000 people with severe mental illness. That is 25,000 more than the opposition contemplated. It will be delivered through access to allied psychological services arrangements. In addition, there is $25.4 million over four years to expand the early psychosis prevention and intervention centre model, building on its successful implementation in Victoria. It is a shame those opposite want to criticise rather than support the work that is being dealt with in this area. All they want to do is— (Time expired)