Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Berowra. Along with all members in this House, he has a deep interest in mental health and suicide prevention, but he is one of the leaders in this place, with his focus on such a profoundly important topic. In any one year we know that four million Australians will face some form of mental health challenge. But this year, above all years, the challenges have been even greater: flood, fire, drought and, of course, the catastrophic human toll of the pandemic. There has been the health toll, the lockdown impacts and the anxiety related to economic circumstances and employment.

Significantly, throughout the course of the pandemic, we've worked together with the states and territories, the opposition and all others to invest in this space to provide support and to provide confidence. Already over $500 million has been provided throughout the course of this year with regard to mental health, with telehealth being a fundamental component of that. It is now at over 33 million services, and mental health remains a huge part of that. This budget lays down the systemic reform pathway to make telehealth a permanent and abiding legacy for the better of the pandemic. That's positive for mental health; it's positive for all Australians.

As well as that, though, the budget very specifically lays down a framework for mental health for the coming four years. In this year alone, there will be $5.7 billion of investment in mental health and suicide prevention support for Australians, and that includes an additional $485 million of mental health funding right now, this year. Very specifically, as part of that, there is the addition to and the doubling of the Better Access psychological support services—from 10 to 20 services. That will provide relief and support for many Australians. It's an important step forward that will give them hope, give them confidence and give them mental health support.

In addition to that, $64 million is being provided for the vital work of suicide prevention. That suicide prevention funding comes on top of the $740 million which the Prime Minister and the Treasurer very passionately allocated last year. That includes $26 million for headspace, $13 million to extend the National Suicide Prevention Trial program and $7 million for Beyond Blue's vitally important The Way Back Support Service. The Way Back program is about giving people hope after they have attempted suicide, have recovered and have been discharged from hospital.

Ultimately, the budget as a whole is about hope and recovery, but the budget for mental health in particular is about hope, recovery and support.

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