Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Carol Brown for her continued interest in these important issues. The government welcomes the National Mental Health Commission's first annual report card. The Gillard government committed to producing this report card at the 2010 election and today we have delivered on that commitment. The report card is a key output for the new and independent national commission headed by Professor Allan Fels. It is an important step in increasing transparency across all mental health services and programs nationally.

The report card is called A contributing life, which refers to the many ways mental illness can affect an individual's quality of life. The report card makes recommendations for governments and the broader community across areas like physical health, housing, employment, seclusion and restraint. The Gillard government commissioned this first-ever report card to drive and guide ongoing improvement and performance in our mental health system, and there are also recommendations on other services used by those living with a mental illness, such as housing and employment. The government will look carefully at this report card and its recommendations. We continue to implement our ongoing reforms in each of these areas and we call on the states and territories to do the same.

The government and the commission realise that services for those with mental health difficulties must be far broader than simply clinical care. That is why the report card has identified six key priority areas, including physical health; connection with family, friends, culture and community; effective support, care and treatment; access to timely and quality intervention, work participation and employment; access to safe, stable housing; and suicide prevention. The report card highlights the fact that, together, these priority areas can give those with mental— (Time expired)