Media Release: Labor Votes to Retain its Cuts to Medicare Mental Health Support

The Labor Government has just voted to enshrine its cuts to Medicare-subsidised mental health access for all Australians.

The Coalition introduced an amendment into the Senate calling on the Government to reverse its cuts to the Better Access initiative, which provides access to Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions.

Supported by the Greens and the crossbench, our amendment stood in solidarity with calls from some members of the Labor Party backbench and mental health professionals to reverse Labor’s devastating cuts.

These cuts have come at a time when Australians are facing natural disasters, cost of living pressures, and household energy bills are skyrocketing.

Labor stands alone against ensuring access to critical support for vulnerable Australians as they continue to face difficult times.

This is a bitterly disappointing result, after we provided the Government with a chance to prove to Australians, on the floor of the Parliament, that they are not prioritising their budget over the mental health of vulnerable Australians.

Again, Labor has turned its back on vulnerable Australians needing its support.