Labor pledges $1bn for more than 100 new or upgraded mental health centres across Australia

Labor has again made Medicare centre stage of the election with a colossal mental health package of $1bn for more than 100 new or upgraded mental health centres. SEE THE LIST

Anthony Albanese is again making Medicare a key issue at this election with a $1bn mental health promise. Picture: Jason Edwards

More than 100 mental health centres will be opened or upgraded across the country under a mammoth $1bn Labor election promise, as the Albanese government seeks to pivot the spotlight back onto Medicare.

The largest mental health package of the election campaign so far is designed to give Australians more places to get help for free while catering for different age groups and levels of need.

The $1bn package, spread over four years, is split into four planks and includes $225m for 31 new and upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres, and more than $200m for 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace services.

There is also $500m for 20 Youth Specialist Care Centres, hubs designed for young people with complex mental health care needs.

The final plank is $90m to fund 1200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers.

Labor’s pledge comes after NewsCorp launched the Can We Talk? campaign, in partnership with Medibank. Picture: Getty Images

It’s a pledge that comes after News Corp launched the Can We Talk? campaign, in partnership with Medibank, to help Australians talk about their mental health and drive more government support.

It also comes after a few days of the Coalition dominating the campaign narrative — for better or worse — with its plan to get the Port of Darwin back into Australian hands, and a sensational reversal on the unpopular working from home policy.

The government already has a program in train to open 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres by 2026, with the new commitment bringing the total figure to 92 by the end of the next term.

It can be revealed of the new or upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres and headspace services, 20 are in New South Wales, 14 in Victoria, 16 in Queensland, eight in Western Australia, four in South Australia, three in Tasmania and two in the Northern Territory.

According to Federal Labor the locations for those services were decided based on advice from headspace and also taking into account health needs and availability.

The location of 2 remote headspace centres and 20 outreach sites, along with the 20 youth focused hubs will be determined in consultation with the mental health sector.

Anthony Albanese says he wants everyone to be able to access the mental health care they need. Picture: Jason Edwards

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to focus his message on youths, saying he wanted everyone “and especially young people” to be able to access the mental health care they need.

“Whether you need short-term support or ongoing care, young or old, we will ensure that a free, mental health service backed by Medicare will be there for you and your family,” he said.

Health Minister Mark Butler will also take aim at the Coalition’s policy of giving Australians 20 Medicare subsidised mental health sessions — in a return to a Covid-era increase from the usual 10.

“You can’t double the number of sessions without doubling the number of psychologists, or you create a bottleneck that means tens of thousands of Australians get no help at all,” Mr Butler said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, in his budget in-reply speech, also announced a Coalition government would invest an additional $400m into youth mental health.

“We will expand the remit of the National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health, which I created in 2014 into a National Institute,” he said.

“We will boost regional services and expand treatment to Australia at the forefront of youth mental health treatment in the world.”