Federal Member for Bowman, Henry Pike, says that a new mental health service planned for Redland Bay is in jeopardy due to the change of federal government.
The former Liberal and Nationals Government committed $3.4 million over four years to establish and operate a Head-to-Health adult mental health service at the Redland Bay satellite hospital, which is currently under construction.
Head-to-Health are a new network of community-based mental health centres which are being rolled out across Australia as part of the previous LNP Government’s National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
“Mental health issues are a growing concern in all Australian communities, but we know that Redlands is severely under-serviced when it comes to all levels of support,” Mr Pike said.
“I recently wrote to Labor’s new Health Minister to confirm that the new Government was committed to this important project and the response was extremely worrying.”
Mr Pike said that the Redland Bay location was selected after a rigorous process of assessment based on local needs evidenced by State Government and Primary Health Network proposals.
Under the agreement it was announced that the service would be integrated within the primary care setting of the Redland Bay Satellite Hospital to offer support to adults with moderate to severe levels of mental health illness over the short to medium term.
“The new Government has refused to commit the $3.4 million for the new facility and is refusing to be drawn on a timeframe for a decision,” Mr Pike said.
“They are going back to the drawing board to ask the State Government and Primary Health Networks to resubmit their proposals which will undergo a whole new assessment.”
“If this investment gets taken out of the Redlands and magically appears in a Labor held electorate, I will be calling it out and pursing the matter in the parliament.”
“I’m putting the Labor Government on notice to not play politics with this important project for the Redlands.”