Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on this very important motion. Mental health is one of the defining challenges of our time. It reaches into every home, every workplace and every community, and it's something the government cannot afford to get wrong. It's the child who can't get the right support at school, the parent who's quietly carrying a heavy burden, the colleague who struggles in silence—we all know someone.

Just this year I stood at the funeral of a young man in his 20s who, tragically, took his own life after a long struggle with mental ill health. This heartbreaking story is not unique. It's echoed in towns, suburbs and communities across our nation. Suicide leaves a devastating impact, not only on those we lose but on the families, friends and wider community who must carry the grief. That is why timely, accessible and compassionate support is not optional; it's essential.

Australians want a system that is there when they need it. They want care that's local, that's affordable and that's delivered with dignity. Every government talks about this. Every government promises to strengthen services and bring them closer to home. But too often the reality is very different. People are left waiting, travelling further and struggling to find the help they deserve. That's why it's astonishing—almost insulting—that this Labor government holds up mental health as one of its centrepieces, when the same government that cut Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions in half is the one that's speaking. It is the same government that took away a program that was working for families. If the government could not protect something so basic, how could Australians possibly trust them to deliver something bigger?

In my electorate of McPherson, the need is undeniable. The census tells us that nearly eight per cent of locals report a long-term mental health condition, and more than one in five live with a mental or behavioural condition. These are not numbers on a page. They're families who are hurting, and they're right to ask: how can Labor talk about strengthening mental health while ripping away the very supports that people relied on? Healthcare access is one of the biggest concerns in McPherson. More than 40 per cent of residents identify it as a pressing issue. That means people are struggling—really struggling—to find consistent and affordable care.

In mental health, the gaps are even starker. People are experiencing distress but facing long waits, higher costs and, in some cases, no local services at all. I think of a single mother I spoke to recently from Currumbin Waters. Her daughter has been dealing with mental health challenges for some time. When Labor halved the psychology sessions it left her in an impossible situation. She simply cannot afford the extra cost, so her daughter now goes without. That is the reality.

While Labor congratulates itself on new announcements, families are left to pick up the pieces. Families do not measure success by how many clinics are promised or how many clinics are opened; they measure it by whether, in a moment of crisis, they can pick up the phone and get help. Right now, too many people are left waiting, and when care is delayed the cost is not just borne by the individual; it is felt by families, schools, workplaces and the whole community.

Even if clinics open tomorrow, who will staff them? Australia is already short of GPs and nurses. The mental health workforce is stretching to breaking point. Psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors cannot keep up with the demand. Unless we train and support more professionals, all the press releases in the world won't deliver the care that Australians need. Our country deserves better. Australians deserve care that is faster, fairer and closer to home. But, under Labor, what they see is patchy access, longer waits and a workforce that is pushed to its limit. That is the truth. Behind all the government's self-praise, Australians are being let down. So the question is simple: what will be different this time? Sadly, if Labor's history is any guide, the answer is: nothing.

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