The Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, must no longer be ignored by the Gillard Government on mental health. The Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, says Professor McGorry has been an outstanding advocate for mental health and his call for extra services, especially in rural and regional areas, must be heeded.
“Our farmers have suffered through a decade of drought but the floods have pushed some of them beyond their levels of endurance,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said. “The Coalition backs Professor McGorry’s call for urgent action from a government that has publicly stated it is making mental health reform and investment a second-term agenda.
“As Professor McGorry said this morning on ABC Radio, ‘we have seen a lot of encouraging noises but no financial or strategic commitment to addressing this major national public health problem’.*
“There are few mental health services in rural and regional Australia but the Gillard Government wanted to rip the heart out of the little that does exist by removing funding for social workers and occupational therapists through the Better Access Initiative. Fortunately, this budget cut was overturned after intense objection.
“The second term is well and truly underway but all we have from the government is another round of consultations. After many reviews and reports, Australians want action now. Instead of more talk, the Prime Minister and Minister Butler need to urgently address the under-funding of mental health services, especially in regional and rural areas.
“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have supported the Coalition’s $1.5 billion plan to expand mental health services. It is time for the Government to do the same.”