Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 80 standing in my name for today relating to mental health funding.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

mental illness is a significant health issue in our community and it must be considered a fundamental component of the national health reform plan,

(ii)

45 per cent of the nation’s population will experience a mental health disorder at some point in life,

(iii)

mental illness required nearly two million occupied bed days in Australian public hospitals in 2007-08, and

(iv)

it is estimated that approximately $380 million per year is spent providing acute hospital care to patients better cared for in other settings;

(b)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

provide additional funding of at least $450 million per year for mental health over the next 4 years to fund:

(a)

$250 million per year for early intervention mental health programs including ‘headspace’ and early psychosis prevention services,

(b)

$100 million per year to expand ongoing primary health care programs to target those in need, the vulnerable and long-term clientele working with the community and non-government organisation sector, and

(c)

$100 million per year for alternatives to emergency department treatment such as multi-disciplinary community-based sub-acute services that supports ‘stepped’ (two-staged) prevention and recovery care,

(ii)

establish a:

(a)

dedicated Mental Health Commission to oversee the development of appropriate mental health services and transparent accountability at arms length from government, such as exists in New Zealand and Canada, and

(b)

national network of one-stop shop community mental health centres accessible by public transport and centrally located, and

(iii)

provide additional training for general practitioners and nurses to triage mental health appropriately; and

(c)

send a message to the House of Representatives informing it of this resolution and requesting it concur.

Question negatived.