‘Delay and deflect’: Griefline hits out at Labor after funding stoush

Labor has ben accused of playing politics with mental health after a funding stoush with a major Australian charity.

An Australian charity promised funding by the Albanese government has accused Labor of kicking the issue down the road until after the federal election.

Griefline, a 37-year-old telephone helpline for Australians struggling with grief, has said it will close its services at the end of this week, claiming reassurances from the government that they would get funding did not materialise in time.

It was one of several leading charities who had their funding axed and later restored after The Daily Telegraph revealed the cost-cutting would see crucial mental health services shut down.

The charity has now accused Labor of stringing them “along for weeks only to push the issue beyond the election, knowing full well they may never have to follow through on their promises”.

The charity said despite public assurances in Senate Estimates last month, they were offered a Forecast Opportunity that had no confirmed timeline and was at risk of being cancelled due to the election.

Health Minister Mark Butler (centre). Picture: John Gass

The government’s grant guidelines warn that: “An election for the House of Representatives may be called before the grant process has been concluded. If this occurs, the Government will enter caretaker mode, during which decisions are not taken that would bind an incoming Government.”

“As a result, Griefline’s national helpline will close on 18 March 2025 due to a $645,000 shortfall, despite more than a year of warnings and attempts to secure alternative funding,” a spokesman for Griefline said.

“This is not just a funding issue, it is a deliberate political manoeuvre to delay and deflect responsibility, and thousands of grieving Australians will now suffer because of it. ”

Opposition assistant mental health spokesman Hollie Hughes. Picture: ABC

Correspondence between the charity and Health Department says the government was following the same timeline it normally does with grant applications and the funding provided was in line with the past two years.

A letter seen by The Daily Telegraph and sent to Griefline from the Health Department said: “Noting Griefline’s request for immediate financial support, please be aware Commonwealth grant processes are subject to the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 under Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

“Therefore, the department is unable to provide further clarity on the timing and availability of any additional funding until these standard processes for the provision of Commonwealth grant funding are undertaken.”

The government said the funding process was under way “occurring as quickly as possible”.

In the letter the government asked the helpline to “reconsider” its announcement that the helpline will close next week.

“I trust this information is helpful and that in light of it you may reconsider declaring the national helpline will close next week ‘due to insufficient government funding’.”

Coalition assistant mental health spokesman Hollie Hughes called on the government to clarify if the government’s reassurances to Griefline were “a desperate attempt to divert attention from this government’s abject failure to support mental health services in this country”.

Originally published as ‘Delay and deflect’: Griefline hits out at Labor after funding stoush