Media Release: Labor’s Cut to Mental Health Support Results in Record-Low Access

Access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support has gone backwards following the Albanese Labor Government’s cruel cut to the Better Access Initiative. 

At the beginning of 2023, the Albanese Government cut the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions Australians can access in half, against the advice of their own review and Australia’s mental health experts.

At the time, the Government disingenuously argued that reducing the number of sessions to 10 would allow more patients to get access to the initiative. This has been proven wrong.

According to data from the Productivity Commission, the number of new patients accessing Medicare mental health support fell by around 8,000 patients in 2023-24 to the lowest point in at least 10 years.

This backs in the Department of Health’s Annual Report for 2023-24, which found that the number of Better Access sessions dropped by 2984 places per 100,000 population in just one year, marking the Albanese Government with a ‘‘fail’’. 

Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Anne Ruston said that it was outrageous to see Labor cut access to Medicare mental health sessions in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and at a time when we know mental health should be a priority.

“Clearly, the Albanese Government’s bizarre explanation they cut the initiative to improve access for more patients was not only disingenuous, but it was wrong,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.

“This Prime Minister does not understand mental health. It would be totally unacceptable to cut a treatment plan in half for any other cohort of patients, so why should it be acceptable when it comes to mental health support?

“We know that affordable access to primary care support, particularly for more complex mental health conditions, is critical to preventing worse outcomes for patients and taking pressure off hospitals.

“The Albanese Government is leaving vulnerable patients behind.”

A Dutton Coalition Government will restore full access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support, on a permanent basis.

ENDS