Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) recognises that men's mental health remains one of the most pressing and under-discussed health challenges in Australia;

(2) notes that every day, an average of seven Australian men take their own lives, lives that could have been saved with earlier support and connection;

(3) acknowledges the ongoing stigma that too often stops men from reaching out for help when they are struggling;

(4) calls on all levels of government, business, and community leaders to continue promoting awareness campaigns, education, and workplace initiatives that make it clear that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness;

(5) encourages men everywhere to check in on their mates, their workmates, and themselves and to make use of the great services available; and

(6) affirms that mental health is not just an individual issue but a community one, and that when men are supported to speak up and seek help, families and communities right across Australia are stronger for it.

Deputy Speaker Lawrence, before I begin, you might be wondering why I'm standing here today in what is probably the brightest and boldest suit parliament has ever seen. I want to assure you that I didn't lose a bet and I'm not on my way to a fancy dress party. I'm wearing this TradeMutt and TIACS suit because it's designed to do exactly what it's done all day. It makes people stop, it makes them look and, most importantly, it makes them talk. This suit is part of a movement called TIACS, which stands for This Is A Conversation Starter. Today I'm proud to wear it so we can start a very important conversation about men's mental health.

TIACS was created by two tradies, Dan and Ed, who are here today, who lost a mate to suicide. They wanted to make sure other men did not slip through the cracks, so they built something simple and practical. TIACS is a free mental health support service for tradies, truckies, miners, farmers, apprentices, hospo workers and, really, anybody doing it tough. They offer free counselling by phone and text from qualified mental health professionals. There are no waiting lists, no referrals, no costs and, most important of all, no judgement. A bloke can be in a ute, in the smoko shed or at home, and they can reach out straightaway. The number is printed on their gear, so help is right there in front of them, and many are using it—they really are. TIACS has had more than 50,000 conversations. That's 50,000 moments where somebody chose to talk instead of staying silent. This is what saving lives really looks like.

The motion we are debating today recognises that men's mental health is one of Australia's biggest health challenges. Every day we lose an average of seven men to suicide, and that's seven families that are shattered, seven communities that are carrying a loss that should have never happened. Too many men feel they have to tough things out and sort things out alone. As many as two in three avoid getting help because of old ideas about what strength looks like. We know where that leads. We see it in hospitals. We see it in relationships and in funerals that come far too soon.

I know what it feels like to hit rock bottom because I've been there myself. When I missed the 2000 Olympics and 2002 Commonwealth Games teams, it knocked me harder than I expected. I questioned my self-identity, my confidence and my future in the sport I loved. When I missed out on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the struggles came back again. I was lucky enough to have people who pushed me and talked to me and talked me through and pulled me through those tough times. That's why services like TIACS are so important. They speak the language of everyday workers and make asking for help feel normal. TIACS proves that when support is simple and safe men will reach out, and TIACS proves that every single day of the week.

The Albanese Labor government is committed to improving men's health as well. We are investing $7.8 billion in mental health and suicide prevention from 2025 to 2026. We're expanding free support, strengthening digital care and making Medicare easier to access. We also have the National Men's Health Strategy guiding long-term action to help men live healthier lives and live longer. On top of that, we are delivering targeted programs like support for men's sheds and mental health programs in sporting clubs. We have also brought in the role that I'm in, the Special Envoy for Men's Health, and I couldn't be prouder about this government bringing something like that in.

But government cannot do this all alone. We need workplaces, clubs and communities looking out for each other. We need men to know that reaching out is strength. So today I want every Aussie bloke out there to hear this clearly. You do not need to wait. You do not need a referral. If you are struggling, please, please reach out. Call TIACS. Text TIACS. Talk to somebody who understands. And, if you notice a mate acting differently, check in on him. Ask him how he's going. You don't need to say anything fancy. Just be there. Have a conversation.

When men get help, families and communities get stronger. That's why I'm wearing this suit today—not to stand out, because I already do, but to really start a conversation. TIACS does that every day and saves lives because of it. I want to thank Ed, Dan and Jess from TradeMutt; Sue and the team at TIACS; and the tailors—Sam and the team at Urbbana. I commend this motion to the House.

See this speech in context