The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Christopher Pyne said that "The
report highlights the great deficiencies in the state government’s delivery of
quality and consistent mental health services," Mr Pyne said.
"The
Australian Government has been urging state governments to address these
failures for many years. We recognise that sufferers from mental illness need
more help, and we have increased our mental health spending exponentially, in
sharp contrast to the states.
"My home state of South Australia is of particular note in the report: the
Rann Labor Government said in 2003 that more needed to be done for the mentally
ill, but has 'turned a blind eye' to the mentally ill for the last three and a
half years.
"The state governments must stop trying to shift the blame
for their failure, and begin to address the issue. They have called on the
Australian Government to show greater leadership, and we have accepted this
invitation by announcing in July this year, in Brisbane, a review of the
national mental health policy.
"I am calling on the state governments to
initiate an audit of mental health services in each state. We must hold the
level of government that is responsible for mental health, the states,
accountable for their failure. Today’s report is a watershed for mental health
service delivery in Australia. I hope each state health minister will read it
and act on it."
A PDF printable version
of Mental health report - a watershed for state mental health services (PDF 30
KB) is available to download at Mental
health report - a watershed for state mental health services
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