Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Can the minister confirm that the Turnbull government is cutting funding to headspace's vital early psychosis programs by 70 per cent? Can she confirm that as a result of these cuts these centres will have to close? And is former Australian of the Year Professor McGorry right to say that if the centres close then almost certainly lives will be lost. Futures will be lost, because recoveries produced as a result of these programs lower suicide rates and save money for the health system?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. If the senator's question is in context of the budget, then of course I am not going to speculate on anything that may or may not be in the budget this evening.

In mental health, it is actually this side of the chamber that is focused on doing this. Those opposite know very, very well that last year there was a comprehensive strategy brought forward that is changing the way we are dealing with mental health in this country. Those opposite think that a Canberra based silo approach to mental health is appropriate. We do not. That is why we have put the work in and the mental health program that we are going to run out through the Primary Health Networks is going to be based—

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

Pause the clock.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: this is a serious question about cuts to and closures of early psychosis programs. If the minister does not know—not only is that extraordinary, but perhaps she could also do us the courtesy of taking it on notice and finding out.

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

In relation to the point of order, the minister did indicate that if this related to budget matters she was not going to disclose.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! I cannot arbitrate as to what may or what may not be in a program or a budget.

An opposition senator: She should know!

I do not know is what I am telling you. The minister is aware of the question. The minister is in order.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was setting the broad scene for the Senate in the context—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Those opposite might laugh, but this is a very serious issue. It is this side that is actually taking mental health seriously. In terms of headspace, we have expanded the headspace sites, not cut them. We are the ones who took the headspace sites to 100, not those opposite. It is this side that has concentrated on youth mental health, that has concentrated on all aspects of mental health, knowing that if we have locally based decisions that look at the best interests of mental health patients we are going to get far better outcomes. It is the coalition government that has put the work into developing a proper plan and outcome in this area.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that the early psychosis headspace centre in Adelaide, that officially opened in March this year in a brand new $2 million purpose-built building, has been told that it will be forced to shut its doors on 30 June this year?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was indicating to those opposite about the changes that we have made moving to the PHN rollout, this will be phased into the PHN rollout and there will be no cuts. Those opposite should stop scaremongering, and perhaps start focusing on developing some decent policy for this country, which clearly they are unable to do. When we look historically at those on the other side it is rolled out today in their incapacity to do anything properly. We have just seen a $19.5 billion black hole from those opposite, which was apparently a 'rounding error'.

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

Pause the clock.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. The minister was asked about a centre that opened in March and is due to close in June. Is that correct or not?

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

The minister did respond by saying that there would be no cuts. I distinctly heard her say that.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I said, 'The program has not been abolished, there are no cuts and the funding will roll into the PHN rollout.'

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that the Turnbull government is refusing to guarantee funding from July 2018 for the almost 100 headspace centres across Australia as part of the government's so-called mental health reforms?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not think I can be any clearer than saying the outline for this going forward, for what those opposite have raised, is being rolled into the Primary Health Network. It will move into the flexible funds. Those opposite should stop scaremongering, and start paying more attention to developing decent policy for the people across this nation who are sick and tired of the Labor Party doing nothing more than coming up with—

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

Pause the clock.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. The minister was asked to confirm the government was refusing to guarantee funding for the 100 headspace centres. If she is unable to answer it she should take it on notice and sit down. Are you really unable to answer the question, Minister?

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

Again, the minister directly answered the question up-front.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The funding will become part, as I said, of the flexible funds. It was very clear.