❓ The Minister outlines the WA government's investment in Indigenous mental health, including training Aboriginal health workers and establishing a psychiatric unit in Broome. They contrast this with the federal Labor government's commitment and highlight the federal Coalition's proposed funding.
AnsweredQoN 422Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDIGENOUS MENTAL HEALTH
This government continues to break new ground in delivering better service in mental health. Will the minister please inform the house how the Liberal – National government is delivering for Indigenous mental health and what commitments we can expect from the federal government? Dr G.G. JACOBS
This government continues to break new ground in delivering better service in mental health. Will the minister please inform the house how the Liberal – National government is delivering for Indigenous mental health and what commitments we can expect from the federal government? Dr G.G. JACOBS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Indeed, Mr Speaker, this government is committed to better mental health and in fact helping people deal with mental illness, including assisting Indigenous mental health services. The government has created the first Mental Health Commission and Mr Eddie Bartnik, the new commissioner, commenced work on Monday. For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
For the first time, we have ring-fenced the budget. In fact, when I came to the portfolio I asked a very simple question about how much money we spend on mental health in Western Australia, which is a very important question. In doing good work, the acting commissioner, Mr Neil Guard, advised me we spend over $506 million—half a billion dollars—on mental health. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : The state government has allocated $128.7 million over the next three years to reform the program to improve Indigenous mental health. Of that, $22 million is part of closing the gap for Indigenous mental health and will be used to train Aboriginal health workers to work with those people in the Indigenous community with a mental illness. That program will in fact train the people on the ground—those in the community who have the heart to be certified to provide counselling services to people—rather than train people in the metropolitan area to be sent to Halls Creek or Fitzroy Crossing, because we have significant issues with not only attracting, but also retaining people in those areas. It is a very practical way of doing it. In fact, Charles Sturt University could provide a course for Aboriginal people that will enable them to provide this service in their communities. Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Recently, I was privileged to start the work on the Broome acute psychiatric unit—a 14-bed unit. Indigenous people from many areas need and will use that facility, obviating the need to transport an acutely ill person on a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane all the way to Perth. Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
Our half-a-billion-dollar investment over one year overshadows the federal Labor Party’s paltry $250 million commitment across all of Australia. I attended the health and hospital reform roadshow conducted by Nicola Roxon and the previous Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. During that roadshow, Mr Rudd displayed a pie chart showing a 33 per cent met need; the rest was unmet. Mr Rudd said that this was the tsunami in health that was coming. I have to say to members, if that is the tsunami in health that is coming, I am surprised that the federal government has not invested more than $250 million across Australia to overcome this issue or to deal with it. I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
I will quote from today’s press a letter to the editor written by Mr Keith Wilson. He said — No one wanting to promote Federal Labor’s health credentials would want to refer to mental health. Its three-year legacy on mental health is lamentable and it comes to this election with few specific commitments. They are the words of a former Labor health minister of Western Australia. In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
In contrast, we have Tony Abbott’s commitment to health: a $1.5 billion commitment, with a particular focus on youth mental health—those aged 12 to 24. Of that money, $440 million will provide 20 early psychosis intervention centres—EPI centres. On a normal break-up proportion, that gives Western Australia two of those centres. Of that money, $832 million is for 800 beds for acute and subacute care. By the normal division, that would bring about 80 beds to Western Australia. A further $225 million is for an additional 60 head-space sites, which provide a door for young people seeking help with their mental illness. None of that is dependent on any signing of an agreement by this state government. There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
There is a clear choice in the election. Obviously, the federal coalition will deliver the much-needed boost for this country, and Tony Abbott will deliver it.
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