Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that Thursday 10 September, is World Suicide Prevention Day and RU OK Day in Australia, and acknowledges that:

(i) the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is ‘Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives’, which is aimed at encouraging people to speak up and reduce the stigma of talking about suicide prevention safely, and

(ii) World Suicide Prevention Day and RU OK Day is an opportunity to build awareness of the support and services available to everyone who has been touched by suicide, and

(b) recognises the great work of the National Coalition for Suicide Prevention to draw attention to this issue, to make a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians and to help build resilient communities that work together to prevent suicide;

(c) notes that:

(i) suicide rates remain unacceptably high, especially among vulnerable groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, young people and people from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex [LGBTI] communities—nearly 2 500 people tragically die by suicide each year, with nearly twice as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people dying by suicide than non-Indigenous people—and each day, seven people die by suicide in Australia,

(ii) the National Mental Health Commission’s final report on the review of mental health programs and services recommends the development of an evidence-based National Suicide Prevention Framework as a priority,

(iii) the Commission’s report was handed to Government on 1 December 2014, but was not formally released by the Government until 16 April 2015 after it was embarrassingly leaked, resulting in a 4 month delay in any action in response,

(iv) the sector is becoming increasingly frustrated because of the Government’s lack of action on implementing any of the recommendations contained within the National Mental Health Commission’s report, and

(v) the mental health sector is facing difficulties because of the lack of funding certainty beyond June 2016, making it increasingly challenging for the sector to employ skilled workers and offer ongoing services to the people who need it most; and

(d) urges the Government to announce its plans for a transformed mental health system which will give certainty and confidence to people living with mental illness, their families and carers, and the organisations that support them in the very near future.

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

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-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

The government agrees with much of this motion. Suicide is an incredibly serious issue and one that both sides of politics should take seriously, particularly on a day like today when we acknowledge the devastating impact that suicide has on families and communities. But this motion does not seem to be entirely about acknowledging the seven people who commit suicide in Australia every day. It does not seem to be entirely about reflecting on the fact that suicide is the leading cause of death for people between 15 and 44 years of age. There is an element that is about seeking to score points. We on this side of the chamber do not think that that is appropriate. Obviously we will be supporting Senator Lazarus's motion later.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are right, Senator Fifield. This motion is not only about acknowledging that seven people die by suicide every day in Australia. It is not only about the fact that 2,500 people die by suicide every year in Australia. It is asking the government to do something about that. This government took one year to do a review of mental health services in Australia, then sat on a report from 1 December last year until 26 April this year and only released that report because it was leaked. The opposition, the community and people living with mental illness are calling on this government to act to ensure that mental health services in Australia will limit the number of people who commit suicide every year in our country. Yes, you are right, Minister—we are asking the government to do something.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McLucas. I again remind senators that statements by leave to motions during discovery of formal business should not amount to a de facto debate on the question before the chair. I am just reminding all senators from both sides to that effect, not anyone in particular.

Question agreed to.