Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to start my contribution, prior to asking the minister the question I have, by thanking him very much for visiting my electorate last week and for the Social Inclusion report that has been done on Wyong Shire Council, and particularly the area he visited which is extremely disadvantaged. It is an area that will benefit enormously from the government's contribution in the area of social inclusion. I particularly thank him for meeting with a number of young people on the issue of mental health and the need for mental health resources in a very poor and isolated area. The report on Wyong Shire has shown just how people in that area have missed out. The concept of social inclusion is very important. It is not playing one group against another; it is making sure that everybody in our society has an opportunity.

The government has invested substantially in improved mental health services over the last five years, culminating in a record $2.2 billion package of reforms announced in the budget, which are now being successfully implemented across Australia. We all just need to look at our electorates to see how successful it has been. We express our thanks to the government, at least on this side of the House. A key part of that reform package was to establish a new mental health commission, to bring better transparency and to report on performance to our mental health service and in our entire mental health system. The budget continues the government support for funding of the National Mental Health Commission and the commission continues to be funded through the Prime Minister's office. Could the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform inform the chamber how this funding will be used and what progress the commission has made already? I also invite the minister to reflect on the leadership of the commission, especially given the recent announcement by Robin Kruk AM about her intention to resign from the Australian Public Service.

See this speech in context