Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Henderson for the very important question. Of course, during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has been a challenge not just in Australia but around the world. The Morrison government recognise that the ongoing restrictions in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 are having a significant impact on the mental health of Australians, but, in particular—as Senator Henderson well knows—in communities in Victoria, who continue to be subject to severe lockdown measures.

Since March of this year, the government have announced a number of emergency response measures to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians through COVID-19. Access to telehealth services under the Medical Benefits Scheme has been expanded to include mental health, allied health professions and general practice. From 16 March to 16 August 2020, over 5.4 million Medical Benefits Schedule subsidised mental health services were accessed, with 35.1 per cent of mental health services delivered by telehealth. We're also investing in our frontline mental health services through our $74 million COVID-19 mental health support package, with $3 million for a dedicated mental health and wellbeing program for frontline workers, $10 million in funding to support older Australians through a community visitor scheme, $6.8 million for the expansion of headspace's digital work and study service, $10 million to establish the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service and $14 million to bolster the capacity of mental health providers such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue. We also have a $48 million National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan.