Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator McLucas, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the effects of Commonwealth funding uncertainty on the mental health sector, including staff loss, a reduction in services to clients and declining staff morale;

(b) understands that 40 per cent of mental health organisations have already experienced loss of staff due to funding uncertainty, as outlined in a survey by Mental Health Australia;

(c) notes that skilled mental health practitioners have commenced leaving rural communities to find work in urban areas due to employment uncertainty;

(d) recognises that mental health organisations will soon be required under law to give notice to staff whose jobs are no longer secure as a result of Commonwealth funding uncertainty;

(e) acknowledges the financial and mental health impacts of job insecurity for those working in the mental health sector; and

(f) calls on the Federal Government to urgently end the funding uncertainty plaguing the mental health sector and give organisations the confidence they need to plan ahead and continue to provide vital mental health services for Australians.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Minister Ley, the Abbott government are absolutely committed to improving the lives of Australians with a mental illness and their families. As part of the budget we delivered on our election commitments by expanding the headspace network to 100 sites, by establishing a National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and by establishing a comprehensive new youth e-mental health platform. We are committed to building a world class mental health system that delivers the best possible services to support people experiencing mental ill-health. That is why we have tasked the National Mental Health Commission to do a thorough review of all existing services—state, federal and non-government. The final report has been concluded and provided to government. We will now consider the report and its recommendations and will respond to the review after appropriate consultations. The government are conscious of the need to resolve these matters quickly, and will advise mental health service providers and others soon.

Question agreed to.