Thursday, 4 August 2022

Ministers statements: mental health reform

Ms WILLIAMS (Dandenong—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) (14:18): I rise today to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s work to implement every recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Nearly 18 months after the delivery of the landmark final report we have made enormous inroads into the reform of our state’s mental health and wellbeing services. Work is underway on more than 90 per cent of the recommendations—90 per cent. New services have opened, and more Victorians than ever are getting the help that they need closer to home.

The Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing board have started their important work. We have appointed providers for our infant, child and family hubs. Applications are now open for our inaugural mental health commissioners. We have kicked off our regional mental health workforce incentives program, and we have opened submissions for our new statewide trauma service.

Of course, though, none of this can happen if you do not fund it properly—a fact that time and time again the royal commission called out. That is why in the last two budgets alone we have invested over $5 billion in this important reform—$5 billion. It is why we have also delivered on an ongoing and sustainable funding mechanism for mental health services across our state—for the right-now but also for the future—because on this side of the house we understand that the only cost would be in the devastating consequences of doing nothing at all.

Our commitment to building a new mental health and wellbeing system is steadfast and it is unwavering, just as it should be. Sadly, the only commitment of those opposite is to not only ignore the royal commission but to cut some $3.7 billion of funding from the system. If they can, they will. That is what they said: if they can, they will. Make no mistake, these reforms will change lives, they will save lives. The work is not easy. It is a long way from finished, but only the Andrews Labor government will finish it.