Tom Venning (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to acknowledge that October is National Mental Health Month. This month reminds us all of the opportunities we have to start conversations that can save lives, to ask 'Are you okay?'. And it reminds us that good mental health is as important as good physical health.

I want to take this opportunity to recognise the vital role of those on the front line supporting Australians who need it most. Thank you for the enduring difference you make to people's lives. However, we cannot ignore that access to mental health services is not the same everywhere. Unfortunately, you have greater access to mental health support in Mongolia than you do in regional South Australia. And if you can find it, there are long distances to travel, limited specialists and, in many cases, months of waiting. This is an unacceptable reality for many people in my electorate of Grey.

I note the work of the former coalition government, which delivered record mental health funding, opened headspace and Medicare mental health centres in Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie and created the Head to Health support service. By contrast, Labor has cut the services and left Australians paying more out-of-pocket costs than ever before, yet the Prime Minister told us that this Medicare card is all we will need under Labor. Australians deserve better than the broken promises and lies of this government.