Fresh from his talkfest around Australia, the Minister for Mental Health, Mark Butler, has announced a new working party to guide mental health reform.
The Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, said the minister now appears to have a National Advisory Council on Mental Health and a new working party.
“Whatever it is called is irrelevant. They had the National Advisory Council chaired by the eminent Professor John Mendoza who quit in disgust.
“The Australian public is well aware that the Gillard Government cannot deliver on a program given its history with pink batts, school halls and green loans, but announcing more talking is excruciating for the mental health sector.
“The Coalition has presented a perfectly acceptable plan to expand mental health funding and motions to support its implement have been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“You cannot blame Professor Patrick McGorry and Professor Ian Hickie for putting their hands up to participate but more talk only adds to the reviews and information already given to the government.”