The Australian Medical Association has upped the ante on the Gillard Labor Government with the release of its first formal Position Statement on Mental Health by calling for an immediate and major investment in mental health services of $5 billion.
This follows a similar call recently by the Government’s top mental health expert, Monsignor David Cappo, for an extra $2.4 billion over the next four years said Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Shadow Minister for Ageing and Shadow Minister for Mental Health.
“Labor cut mental health funding in its first two budgets. It has neglected mental health over the years despite the strident calls of mental health experts and the Coalition to undertake reform of mental health,” Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said.
“In 2006, the Coalition made a $1.9 billion investment in mental health. At the last election the Coalition’s policy was to invest a further $1.5 billion into mental health. Leading mental health experts such as former Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, and Professor John Mendoza endorsed our policy. Despite the Senate and House of Representatives having passed motions endorsing this policy, the Gillard Labor Government has failed to act.
“The AMA Position Statement is one in a long line of reviews and reports outlining service and workforce needs which have been ignored by Labor.
“By the Government’s own admission young people, men and those in regional and remote areas are not able to access the mental health services that they desperately need. Despite this, COAG Health proposals Mark I and Mark II both failed to address mental health and put it off for later consideration.
“The time for talking and reviewing is over. In this year of decision and delivery, Australians with mental illness and their carers and their families are waiting for action, not just words.”