The Albanese Labor Government’s last-minute backflip on funding cuts to 13 mental health organisations has done little to resolve the ongoing uncertainty threatening critical services.
Griefline – a vital grief support service that has supported Australians for 37 years – is still set to close next week. Despite clear commitments made during Senate Estimates, the Albanese Government has refused to guarantee restored funding.
During Senate Estimate hearings, Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, representing the Minister for Health, assured funding would be reinstated for multiple mental health services, including Griefline. This assertion came in response to questioning on mental health cuts by Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Senator Hollie Hughes.
Griefline has since alleged that this commitment was nothing more than “political maneuvering” to deflect mounting public pressure over the Government’s shameful decision not to continue funding key mental health organisations.
Despite the Government’s promise, Griefline has only received a ‘Forecast Opportunity’ – with no application timeline or certainty of approval before an election is called. This broken promise all but guarantees the closure of this critical helpline.
“The Government has effectively kicked grief support funding beyond the election, avoiding accountability and leaving grieving Australians without the help they need,” a Griefline spokesperson said.
“The funding offered is half of what’s required, creating a major shortfall. Thousands of Australians will lose access to urgent grief support, with no guarantee funding will ever be finalised.”
Senator Hollie Hughes called it a mess of the Prime Minister’s own making.
“Minister Butler must clean it up now for the good of the sector. I call on Minister McCarthy and Minister Butler to clarify whether they misled Senate Estimates to deflect from the Government’s failure to support mental health services,” Senator Hughes said.
“It looks like Labor made promises with no intention of delivering before these programmes were shut down.
“It’s too little, too late. They must provide certainty for these organisations and apologise to those who lost their jobs due to this Government’s incompetence.”
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston, said this was yet another example of Labor failing Australians on mental health.
“They slashed Medicare mental health funding in half, dissolved the National Mental Health Commission, and tried to cut funding for essential community services. Now, they won’t even honour their own backflip,” Senator Ruston said.
“This is a disaster, and vulnerable Australians will suffer the consequences.
“The Albanese Government must act immediately to provide long-term funding certainty to these organisations before Griefline is forced to shut and grieving Australians are left without support.”
Only the Coalition will ensure mental health services remain properly funded, including by doubling the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions for Australians. As part of our plan to get Australia Back on Track, we are committed to ensuring Australians have the support they need when they need it most.
ENDS
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