Andrews: mental health inquiry cost is worth it

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says a royal commission into mental health will be costly, but is an ‘investment’.

‘A profound investment in a fairer, a more decent, Victoria’: Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Getty Images

Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to reveal the cost of Victoria’s royal commission into mental health, instead proclaiming that the commission is the only way forward to fix the “broken” mental health system.

More than 8000 Victorians made a submission towards the terms of reference for the commissi­on.

These include how to prevent mental illness and suicide, supporting families and carers of people living with mental illness, and how to best support people living with mental illness and alcohol or drug abuse.

Mr Andrews announced yesterday that former Justice Department secretary Penny Armytage would chair the commission, alongside academics Alex Cockram, Allan Fels and Bernadette McSherry as the inquiry commissioners.

Psychiatrist Patrick Mc­Gorry will chair an expert ­advisory panel to allow people not at the centre of the inquiry to still share advice.

Mr Andrews said Victoria was at its best when it tackled big reform challenges, such as mental health and a previous royal commission into family violence.

“It is almost certain that there will be a big bill at the end of this process as well but I don’t see that so much as a cost to budget as a profound investment in a fairer, a more decent, Victoria,” he said.

Mr Andrews promised the government would implement all of the commission’s recommendations and expected the final report to include ways to measure implementation.

“This is about building a momentum that no government can ignore in the future,” the Premier said.

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