Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fisher for putting forward this motion. And I also thank my friend the member for Fremantle—that's with just one 'e'; sometimes that escapes people's attention—for the important points that he made about First Nations mental health and suicide rates. They are incredibly important points for us to realise. As COVID and a succession of calamities and natural disasters have hit our nation this year, with the isolation and the feeling of being alone within a lot of First Nations communities and certainly, many in the Northern Territory, hopefully we all realise that the rates of young Indigenous people dying by their own hand are shocking. I was talking to someone in the Northern Territory just last week trying to help their community, and it related to a 13-year-old boy who had died by his own hand. It is shocking, but we need to be shocked into realising that there's so much more for us to do.

I want to acknowledge the first responders, who have been doing so much during this time, and their mental health. They have been serving us as a community, but we need to remember them and serve them. In recent months, of course, coronavirus has wrought havoc on our communities and it is important that we don't see ourselves as too strong or needing to be stoic. We need to actually do the strong thing and take control and reach out for that help ourselves when we need it. I commend that to everyone. In my life, when I've had times of difficulty, I always thought that I needed to maintain control. I had responsibilities, so I had to keep my act together for others. Someone very wisely pointed out to me, that taking control is seeking help, because you're then able to discharge your duties and responsibilities in a better way. So, based on my personal experience, I say to everyone: seek some support when you need it, because that's what everyone around you who loves you is hoping that you do, because they want you to be well.

I commend many things that the government has done during the COVID period. As was mentioned earlier, the extension of telehealth services is very important, as is the investment of $100 million in COVID-related mental health support, but I would like to see more funding specifically for people who have lost their jobs. I think we can do a lot more there. Back in March, the suicide prevention Turning the Tide report found that the rate of suicide for people who were unemployed was nine times that of the general population, and it could, sadly, be a lot higher than that now, so there is a bit more work for us to do there.

As the member for Fremantle said last week, we had a very important debate in the chamber, and members opposite spoke about the issue of a permanent commissioner for veteran suicide, and those on this side were debating in favour of a full royal commission with a fixed end and start date to look at the whole continuum of supports for veterans. I'll take the opportunity whilst those members are there to say that a permanent commissioner may very well be a recommendation of a full royal commission. Obviously, we want to do a deep dive on any veteran suicide, but I ask you to not close off your mind to the idea of a full royal commission that would have a suite of recommendations that would improve the services for those who serve our country, and I appreciate your wanting to keep an open mind on these things.

It being Veterans' Health Week, I want to acknowledge the ex-service organisations. They're doing great work in my electorate. In particular I acknowledge Mates4Mates, who will be setting up the wellbeing centre. They have a range of activities on for veterans and Defence Force personnel and their families, and I commend them for the great work that they are doing. I hope that we can do more and that there is a bipartisan effort to make sure that we support Australians as best we can. (Time expired)

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