Mental health advocates hope for more funds after budget let-down
Mental health failed to secure any big wins in the budget, and experts are holding out hope the election campaign will see the overwhelmed system in the spotlight.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Experts are calling for more investment in mental health during the upcoming election campaign, after the sector failed to secure any big wins in the federal budget.
The budget, handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, did not feature any major packages for the overwhelmed system.
News Corp last week launched the Can We Talk? campaign, in partnership with Medibank, to help Australians talk about their mental health and drive more government support.
Psychiatrist and former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry said it was “quite surprising that after three years (in government) and a global youth mental health crisis that this has not been addressed”.
“But we’re holding out hope the election campaign will see this tackled,” the Orygen executive director said.
“The government and opposition have been given a clear blueprint of what to do.”
Medibank chief executive David Koczkar said what this budget showed was there was “still a lot of innovation and investment required to keep Australia’s health system one of the best in the world”.
“One in five people will experience a mental health condition in a given year, and despite important investments to strengthen Medicare, more investment is needed in mental health,” he said.
“We need to make mental health an urgent national priority to meet the needs of our community now and into the future.”
Budget papers said the government would provide an additional $46m to continue digital mental health services.
They also included $1.6m in mental health help for Australians impacted by the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East; $3.2m to extend targeted mental health support for emergency service workers provided through Fortem Australia and the Black Dog Institute; and $24.7m over four years from 2025–26 to improve access to culturally safe and qualified mental health support for First Nations people, including scholarships for Indigenous psychology students.
Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, helping Australian families better tackle mental wellbeing. To follow the series and access all stories, tips and advice, visit our new Health section.
More Coverage
Originally published as Mental health advocates hope for more funds after budget let-down
‘Emotion in the air’: PM, Dutton’s powerful Anzac Day messages
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have ditched election rhetoric and political jargon as they reveal their personal thoughts on what Anzac Day means to them. Read their letters.
Albo’s minerals stockpile won’t fix tariffs – but will give us ‘leverage’
The PM says a strategic reserve of minerals like cobalt, lithium and nickel would give Australia “leverage” with Donald Trump – but experts say his plan needs to go much further.