Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I came to this parliament, I qualified as a child and youth psychologist. That training set me up for a career working with and fighting for people, for children and for families, and it enabled me to have a deep understanding of the impact of mental ill-health and suicide.

This area of policy is deeply personal and mental ill-health is a lived reality for many, many Australians. Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy that leaves a permanent mark not just on families but on friends, workplaces and entire communities. The numbers are stark, and we've heard every speaker on this motion today talk about the stats, and it's really important that we do. Nine Australians are lost every day to suicide, with more than 150 attempts made. But moving beyond those numbers, these are people we know. These are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and friends, whose lives should still be with us and whose absence is felt every single day. That's why this government has put suicide prevention at the heart of its mental health and wellbeing agenda.

We know that suicide is never just about one thing. Behind every statistic are layers of complex experiences: mental ill-health, trauma, loneliness, financial stress, housing insecurity, discrimination and more. No single agency or initiative can tackle this alone. It takes a joined-up, whole-of-government, whole-of-community effort. The recent Australian National Audit Office report made clear the need to do more to ensure suicide prevention policies are effective and accountable. The government recognises the importance of measurable outcomes and clear accountability. We are committed to making sure not just that we work hard but that our work makes a measurable difference. That's why we've already taken decisive action.

Last year we launched the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035, a comprehensive, evidence based plan for the next decade. But a strategy alone is not enough. It needs to be backed by real investment and practical action, and that's exactly what we're seeking to do. Since returning to government, we have invested over $610 million in suicide prevention initiatives. This includes universal aftercare so that anyone who has been discharged from hospital after an attempt or is in crisis is supported, not left to recover alone. We have directed over $330 million to culturally relevant, community led supports for First Nations people, including to Culture Care Connect. Around $200 million has gone to crisis support lines such as Lifeline and 13YARN so that help is always there at the most critical moments.

But we also know that the drivers of suicide go well beyond the health system. That is why we're tackling cost-of-living pressures, expanding access to affordable housing and confronting family and domestic violence, all of which are linked to suicide risk. We have made medicines more affordable, restored bulk-billing and cut student debt. Through our $1.5 billion Housing Support Program and more than $4 billion since 2022 in initiatives to address domestic, family and sexual violence, we are working to reduce the pressures that can put people into crisis.

I'm especially proud that this commitment reaches into my electorate of Maribyrnong. Young people in Melbourne's north-west will soon have better access to free wraparound support through a brand new headspace in Moonee Valley. The Albanese Labor government is investing $6.2 million over four years to establish this vital service in my community, which is expected to open in 2027. This is all part of our broader $200 million investment to deliver 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace services across the country.

Headspace plays a vital role in supporting young people aged 12 to 25 with their mental health, physical and sexual health, substance use, work and study. As a child-and-youth psychologist, I've seen how early intervention can change people's lives. That is why I'm a strong advocate for headspace at Moonee Valley and proud to be working with Minister Butler and Assistant Minister McBride to deliver it. As a qualified psychologist, I know firsthand how important it is to understand what works and why. That's why this government is developing the National Suicide Prevention Outcomes Framework, led by the National Suicide Prevention Office in partnership with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

I acknowledge the member for Bowman for recognising the bipartisan approach that's needed on this, and, in my role as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Suicide Prevention, I have the privilege of meeting with peak bodies right across the sector. There is always more to do. That is why we're working every day to build a country where help is available and affordable and is there when people need it.

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