Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ramsay Health Care has announced that they will close 17 of their 20 private psychology clinics by the end of this month. We do not yet know how many jobs will be lost, but we do know that the impact will be felt by the thousands of people who need and rely on these services.

Last year the government review of the private health sector flagged obstetrics and mental health as services of concern that are becoming 'increasingly difficult to offer'. The Mental Health Commission Report Card showed that one in five people delay getting help because of cost. These closures will only make it harder to access help when you need it and more expensive to boot.

This is what happens when we let mental health care be treated as a business, not a right. While private providers withdraw, the public systems are already under strain, from psychiatrist shortages to disputes that highlight how under-resourced services have become. Mental health care must be funded and accessible through Medicare. People should not be left at the mercy of private profit. Ramsay claims that they are moving to a more flexible and sustainable model, but the reality is that replacing in-person care with telehealth alone won't meet people's needs, especially in crisis. Behind every statistic, people are waiting in pain and suffering—paying more or missing out entirely. (Time expired)