Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fierravanti-Wells. It is an area where for some time we have had bipartisan support across the chamber to improve mental health. I think on a day like today, which is about mental health, we ought to reflect upon how we address it. The government is delivering on its commitments to make mental health a priority, with investment totalling $2.2 billion over five years from 2011-12. Reforms are focused on the lives of thousands of Australians experiencing mental illness through better detection, better targeting and better coordination. The point I go to is that if you go back to the record there has been significant bipartisan support as to how we address mental health and improve mental health. I do detect from those opposite now that we are skating away from a bipartisan approach, which is disappointing to see.

Senator Brandis interjecting—

I do not think it is an appropriate time to interject in a negative way on a very important day on which we are looking at how we improve mental health across the board. So far as the government's achievements, they include developing 15 new headspace locations. This government is committed not only to the work that we did in The Way Forward but also the budget, Delivering better hospitals, mental health and health services. If you look at the commitments that this government has made, one of the most significant commitments is to improve mental health by this government across the board. That is what this government has sought to do. If you look at the work that has been done— (Time expired)