The gaps in services for people with psychosocial disability in the NDIS are deeply concerning and need to be urgently addressed, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

It has been revealed in the Government Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) that the marriage equality postal survey came in $41.5m under budget; this must now go towards mental health services for LGBTIQ people, the Australian Greens said today. 

“While we are all overjoyed about finally achieving marriage equality in Australia, this survey should never have happened in the first place and it was a huge outlay of tax payer money for an unnecessary exercise that hurt our LGBTIQ communities,” said Senator Janet Rice, the Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

The Australian Greens have secured senate support for a motion calling for the $20 million not spent in the marriage equality postal survey to be directed to mental health services.  

“The marriage equality survey came in $20 million under budget, meanwhile mental health services were put under immense pressure due to the scrutiny inflicted on the LGBTIQ community, having a significant impact on their mental health”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Mental Health Senator Rachel Siewert said today.  

While we are all overjoyed about the postal survey result yesterday, this survey should never have happened in the first place and it was a huge waste of tax payer money.

“There are reports that the marriage equality postal survey came in $20 million under budget, said Senator Janet Rice, the Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

“Many LGBTIQ people will remain scarred by the traumatic ordeal the Government has put them through. Mr Turnbull could start making amends by investing this $20 million into mental health services for LGBTIQ people.

“It is unbelievable to think that anyone would want more opportunity to discriminate against people with mental ill health, but that’s apparently exactly the case for FamilyVoice.

“I am gobsmacked that this organisation thinks that upsetting a church service is a reason to unbolt protections for people who are struggling. People with mental ill health should not be discriminated against, they need increased supports and understanding.

“This is cruel and further entrenches stereotypes when so many people are working to do the opposite”.  

"The findings of the Mission Australia and Black Dog Five Year Mental Health Youth Report that almost one in four young people are likely to have a serious mental health problem confirms yet again the need for a strong commitment to mental health funding by the Turnbull Government", Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

"We urgently need strong targets and programs in schools and universities. It is deeply concerning but not surprising that young women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are disproportionately affected.

It was devastating to hear on World Mental Health Day that a refusal to increase funding for Lifeline Top End in the Northern Territory has resulted in the shopfront closing its doors, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today.

“On World Mental Health day it was particularly saddening that an important service that provided face to face counselling and community engagement closed because the Northern Territory Government refused to increase funding, this was a cruel and I would say dangerous decision.

On World Mental Health Day Australian Greens Mental Health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert is calling on the Government to make clear its plan to reduce climbing suicide rates.

“Today Government should reflect on how to reduce increasing suicides rates in this country. We recently learned that suicide rates are at a ten year high, this should urgently jolt the Government into action.