Senate debates

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Motions

Mental Health

3:56 pm

Photo of Penny WrightPenny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move general business notice of motion No. 623:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the study by Melbourne‘s Monash University which shows fewer people in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas accessing mental health services;

(b) acknowledges that rates of severe mental illness are higher in the most disadvantaged areas;

(c) recognises that people in wealthier areas access psychologists and psychiatrists up to three times as often as those in the most disadvantaged areas; and

(d) calls on the government to address these inequalities by providing incentives for mental health professionals to practise outside major cities.

Question agreed to.