Category: Australian News

At a time when the cost of living crisis is both making mental health worse and causing an increasing number of people across Australia to delay or miss out on essential mental health care, the Greens have announced a fully costed plan to provide unlimited mental health in Medicare as part of a plan for free mental healthcare.

The plan, one of the party’s ‘Robin Hood’ reforms, will be paid for by taxing big corporations that are profiting off price gouging during a cost of living crisis. It will provide significant cost of living relief and enable all Australians to get the mental healthcare they need, with recent ABS data showing that 43% of people will experience mental health issues in their life and 24% of people who needed to see a psychologist delayed or didn’t do so because of the cost.  

The Greens’ plan to get mental health into Medicare follows the Greens’ commitment to build 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics in each electorate, where publicly-employed psychologists, GPs and nurses would be available to provide healthcare for free, as well as a costed plan to get dental into Medicare. 

This next step in the Greens’ plan for “Free and Unlimited Mental Healthcare” will be announced by Greens Leader Adam Bandt, health spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John and Greens candidate Sonya Semmens in the key Greens target seat of Macnamara on Thursday. Macnamara is one of the closest electoral contests in the country. If 298 voters had changed their vote in the last election, the Greens would have won this seat. In 2022 the Greens received a 5.5% positive swing in Macnamara, while Labor’s vote was almost stagnant with a swing of 0.9%.

With a minority Parliament looming, the Greens say that free healthcare will be a key policy for the Party this election and will be on the table and pushed in any minority Parliament negotiations after the next election.

THE GREENS’ PLAN FOR FREE AND UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTHCARE INCLUDES:  

• UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS ON MEDICARE: Currently, Australians can access a maximum of just 10 subsidised mental health sessions through the Better Access Scheme (this number was halved from 20 by the Albanese Government in late 2022, resulting in the number of subsidised psychologist visits plummeting, by almost a quarter of a million sessions). The Greens will remove the cap, so you can access unlimited clinically relevant appointments.
• FREE PSYCHOLOGIST SESSIONS at 1000 free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia
• INCREASED MEDICARE REBATE: The Greens will ensure you get a Medicare rebate of at least $150 for each session with a clinical or registered psychologist.
• SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE: The Greens will enable Provisional Psychologists to access Medicare subsidised sessions, and are committed to investing in lived experience by increasing the number of peer workers by 1000 workers, including First Nations peer workers. This will give people who need mental health care but don’t need to see a psychologist more options.

The previously announced Greens plan to establish 1000 Free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia, involves government-employed psychologists and nurses providing free services alongside GPs and dentists. There will be at least 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics per electorate. These Free Local Healthcare Clinics will save the average psychology client up to $430 a year, though more frequent users will save up to $1720.

Each of these policies has been independently costed by the PBO. Based on this analysis, our plan would be expected to cost approximately $5.9b over the coming decade, as well as $31.7b already announced for Free Local Healthcare Clinics.

This election, the Greens are campaigning to hold their existing Senate seats and grow in the House of Representatives, in seats including Macnamara, Wills, Richmond, Sturt and Perth. In addition to stopping new coal and gas mines and ending native forest logging, the Greens will have a strong economic offering, centred around a series of ‘Robin Hood Reforms’ to tackle the housing and cost of living crises: a Big Corporations Tax on large companies’ excessive profits, which will raise $514b over the decade, and fund ‘Free and Unlimited Mental Healthcare’, ‘GP for Free’, as well as other measures to come.

Mr Adam Bandt, Leader of the Australian Greens: 

“If you’re putting off mental healthcare because you can’t afford it, you’re not alone.

“Under Labor and Liberal, big corporations are price gouging and making massive profits during a cost-of-living crisis. Meanwhile, everyday people are forced to choose between getting mental healthcare and keeping a roof over their heads.

“1 in 3 big corporations pay no tax. The Greens will make big corporations pay their fair share of tax so you can see a psychologist for free and get unlimited mental health appointments through Medicare.

“Labor halved mental healthcare in Medicare, but the Greens’ plan will make mental healthcare free and unlimited by expanding Medicare. 

“This election, voters in Macnamara will have a choice between a Labor MP who’s cut their access to mental healthcare and a Greens candidate who will fight to get mental health fully into Medicare and make it free.”

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Health spokesperson and Senator for WA:

“The Greens have a bold plan that will improve the health of our community, and bring down the cost of living. 

“Too many people in our community are not able to access mental healthcare simply because it’s too expensive. The Greens plan, which I am proud to announce today, will see people being able to get mental healthcare when they need it. 

“Under Labor, the number of Better Access Scheme sessions has been cut from 20, to 10. This is leaving too many people unable to get Medicare-subsided Mental Healthcare. The Greens want to ensure that if you need more sessions with your psychologist, you’ll be able to get them. 

“We’ll also increase the rebate and expand the range of providers able to offer Medicare sessions to include provisional psychologists. 

“This plan to expand the Better Access Scheme sits alongside our plan to open 1000 local healthcare centres across the country where people will be able to see a psychologist for free. 

“Today’s announcement is the latest commitment from the Greens that will save the community thousands of dollars a year in healthcare costs. Our plan to get Mental Healthcare into Medicare sits alongside our plan to get Dental into Medicare and to get back to the GP for Free; these will bring us closer to a universal healthcare system.”  

Greens candidate for Macnamara Sonya Semmens:

“Everyone who lives in Macnamara should be able to access mental healthcare when they need it, but so many in our community are going without.

“Like 1 in 4 Australians I’ve experienced anxiety.
Like 1 in 5 Australians, I’ve had periods of depression.
Like 1 in 10 Australians, I’ve survived an eating disorder, the deadliest of all mental illnesses.

“As a parent I worry about how I’d afford to give my kids the mental health care that my parents could access for me when I was young – and which may have saved my life. It’s an awful thing to do the maths on how much help you can afford to give your kids. We know early intervention is critical as a preventative for lifelong or severe mental illness, I’m absolutely determined that no person should put off getting the care they need.

“Every day people tell me the cost-of-living crisis is taking a massive toll on their mental health, while at the same time making it harder to get the mental healthcare they need. This is absolutely heartbreaking, and not the way it should be in our wealthy country.

“I’m so proud of our life-changing plan to deliver unlimited mental health on Medicare and enable people in Macnamara to see a psychologist with no out-of-pocket costs at a Free Local Healthcare Clinic.

“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want free and unlimited mental healthcare, the first step is to vote for someone who’ll fight for you.”

The Greens have called on Peter Dutton and the Labor Party to unequivocally rule out storing high and intermediate level nuclear waste at Osborne near Port Adelaide after SA Defence Minister Stephen Mullighan refused to do so on ABC Adelaide radio this morning.

Peter Dutton and Labor combined to pass the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill which designates Osborne in SA as a nuclear dump zone, allowing for the dumping of US and UK intermediate-level waste and other high-level nuclear waste. Adelaide residents will tonight attend a community forum in the marginal seat of Sturt to discuss Peter Dutton’s nuclear agenda, 6:30pm at Burnside Town hall.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for the Environment & Senator for South Australia:

“Adelaide residents have a right to know if our suburbs will become a dumping ground for high and intermediate level nuclear waste from the US and UK. 

“There should be no room for secrecy or tricky answers here: Peter Dutton and Labor must come clean now and unequivocally rule out storing high and intermediate level waste in Adelaide suburbs. Adelaide residents deserve an answer: yes or no. 

“The law Peter Dutton and Labor voted for clearly makes Osborne, a mere stones throw from suburban Port Adelaide, a nuclear dump ‘zone’, with both major parties voting against the Greens amendment to stop high level waste being dumped there. 

“Peter Dutton not only wants nuclear reactors across Australia – he wants Adelaide to be an international dumping ground for nuclear waste. 

“Exposure to even intermediate-level waste is lethal to humans and the risk lasts for hundreds of years.

“Peter Dutton doesn’t care about Adelaide and this law is a dangerous disaster for our State. This time, SA voters have the chance to send a message by voting Green: don’t turn Adelaide’s suburbs into Peter Duttons nuclear waste dump.”

At a time when the cost of living crisis is both making mental health worse and causing an increasing number of people across Australia to delay or miss out on essential mental health care, the Greens have announced a fully costed plan to provide unlimited mental health in Medicare as part of a plan for free mental healthcare.

The plan, one of the party’s ‘Robin Hood’ reforms, will be paid for by taxing big corporations that are profiting off price gouging during a cost of living crisis. It will provide significant cost of living relief and enable all Australians to get the mental healthcare they need, with recent ABS data showing that 43% of people will experience mental health issues in their life and 24% of people who needed to see a psychologist delayed or didn’t do so because of the cost.  

The Greens’ plan to get mental health into Medicare follows the Greens’ commitment to build 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics in each electorate, where publicly-employed psychologists, GPs and nurses would be available to provide healthcare for free, as well as a costed plan to get dental into Medicare. 

With a minority Parliament looming, the Greens say that free healthcare will be a key policy for the Party this election and will be on the table and pushed in any minority Parliament negotiations after the next election.

THE GREENS’ PLAN FOR FREE AND UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTHCARE INCLUDES:  

• UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS ON MEDICARE: Currently, Australians can access a maximum of just 10 subsidised mental health sessions through the Better Access Scheme (this number was halved from 20 by the Albanese Government in late 2022, resulting in the number of subsidised psychologist visits plummeting, by almost a quarter of a million sessions). The Greens will remove the cap, so you can access unlimited clinically relevant appointments.
• FREE PSYCHOLOGIST SESSIONS at 1000 free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia.
• INCREASED MEDICARE REBATE: The Greens will ensure you get a Medicare rebate of at least $150 for each session with a clinical or registered psychologist.
• SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE: The Greens will enable Provisional Psychologists to access Medicare subsidised sessions, and are committed to investing in lived experience by increasing the number of peer workers by 1000 workers, including First Nations peer workers. This will give people who need mental health care but don’t need to see a psychologist more options.

Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Senator for South Australia:

“Too many people in South Australia are not able to access mental healthcare simply because it’s too expensive. Mental health should be part of Medicare and the Greens have a plan to fix it.

“The Greens plan will see people being able to get mental healthcare when they need it. 

“Under Labor, the number of Better Access Scheme sessions has been cut from 20, to 10. This is leaving too many people unable to get Medicare-subsided Mental Healthcare. The Greens want to ensure that if you need more sessions with your psychologist, you’ll be able to get them. 

“Our plan to get Mental Healthcare into Medicare sits alongside our plan to get Dental into Medicare and to get back to the GP for Free; these will bring us closer to a universal healthcare system.

“We’ll also increase the rebate and expand the range of providers able to offer Medicare sessions to include provisional psychologists. 

“Under Labor, the number of Better Access Scheme sessions has been cut from 20, to 10. This is leaving too many people unable to get Medicare-subsided Mental Healthcare. The Greens want to ensure that if you need more sessions with your psychologist, you’ll be able to get them. 

“This plan to expand the Better Access Scheme sits alongside our plan to open 1000 local healthcare centres across the country where people will be able to see a psychologist for free.

“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want free and unlimited mental healthcare, the first step is to vote for someone who’ll fight for you.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Deputy Leader and International Aid Spokesperson, has condemned new Israeli legislation labelling UNRWA a terrorist organisation and restricting its operations, and has called on the Albanese government to sanction Israel. 

Senator Faruqi: 

“Israel just keeps reaching new levels of depravity while the Australian government watches on. If committing a genocide wasn’t enough, now they want to effectively block the main UN agency from providing relief to desperate Palestinians.

“Undermining and stopping UNRWA from providing aid to Palestinians has been a long term goal of Israel and it’s outrageous that now they are even closer to achieving this because the world has refused to take action to stop them.

“Israel is only proving to the world that it is a rogue, genocidal state that has no regard for international law or institutions.

“The Labor government has been ‘urging’ Israel to abide by international law for a year, and all we’ve seen is its war crimes and genocide escalating. 

“Enough with the weasel words. It’s time for Albanese and Wong to impose sanctions and expel the Israeli ambassador.”   

The Federal Environment Minister is presiding over a wildlife wipeout in Australia by failing to protect endangered species from extinction, including failing to meet her own deadline to protect the Maugean Skate by stalling a decision until after the election.

The ancient species of skate is sliding towards extinction due to  the toxic Atlantic salmon farming industry, with less than 120 adult Maugean skate remaining in the wild. 

Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim:

“Labor has today chosen multinational corporate profits over the survival of one of the world’s most unique creatures.”

“The science shows Macquarie Harbour is unsuitable for industrial salmon farming. The way to give the Maugean Skate the best chance of survival is for the Minister to evict toxic salmon farms out of Macquarie Harbour.”

“She has the power, and has all the science she needs to make that decision today.” 

“This is a cowardly political decision by the Minister which prioritises corporate profits over the survival of an ancient species.”

“Delaying a decision until after the next election risks handing the future of the Maugean Skate into the hands of a Dutton government minister. We all know how that would end.”

“If the Maugean Skate slides into extinction Tanya Plibersek will have blood on her hands.”

“Let’s be clear: if Peter Dutton becomes Prime Minister, this ancient species has no chance. A Dutton Minister won’t rein in the salmon industry one bit – it’s a death warrant for the skate.”

“Successive governments and the salmon industry have misled Tasmania’s regional communities for years, overstating the viability of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

“It’s well past time to transition workers into sustainable industries that don’t come at the cost of our environment and endangered species.”

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is spokesperson for the Environment & Senator for South Australia:

“This delay is a coward’s decision – putting politics ahead of nature.

“Tasmania’s salmon industry is toxic and is wiping out the precious Maugean Skate while the Albanese Government panders to polluters in an election year. 

 “By kicking the can down the road past the election, the Environment Minister is putting politics and pollution before environmental protection. The Minister has failed to meet the deadline and is failing to halt extinctions here in Tasmania and across Australia.

 “Tomorrow, almost 50 other threatened species and ecological communities are due for a conservation assessment decision from the Environment Minister. This is the state of the environment in Australia: more extinctions, habitat destruction and wildlife wipeouts.

 “I urge the Albanese Government to work with the Greens to pass stronger environment laws to protect endangered species, stop native forest logging and safeguard the climate for our kids.”

The Greens say federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision today to approve a rocket launching site on habitat critical for endangered animals is a disaster for the environment and a slap in the face for the local community.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for the Environment, Senator for South Australia:

“The Environment Minister has one job: protect the environment, but her decision today will trash this pristine part of South Australia and threaten endangered wildlife and animals.

“This is an insult to locals who clearly said they don’t want rockets threatening their environment, or tourism and local industries, including fishing.

“This decision shows the Albanese Government is not genuine in its pledge to stop wildlife extinction and habitat destruction. This ecosystem is critical for the endangered Southern Emu Wren of which there are only 750 left, not to mention the Mallee Whipbird, the Australian fairy Tern and the Eastern Hooded Plover.

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to appreciate that rocket testing at Whalers Way is bonkers.

“There are no conditions that could make this project acceptable, the Minister should have rejected it.

“Space has a place in SA, but a rocket launch site bang in the middle of a delicate ecosystem and against the wishes of this vibrant coastal community is not it.”

Australia has now ratified all ten International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Conventions, reaffirming the Albanese Government’s commitment to protect workers’ rights and safety.

The final Fundamental Convention – Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention 187 – was ratified by Australia overnight [29 October] in a tripartite ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, with representatives of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Convention promotes nationwide policies, systems and programs to support a safe and healthy working environment, and prevent occupational injuries, diseases and deaths.

This achievement underscores the Government’s belief in upholding international rules, norms and standards, and securing a safe and healthy working environment for all.

Ratification ensures Australian Governments continue to promote labour standards and protect workers from occupational harm, in line with international best practice.

For more information on the ILO’s Fundamental Conventions, see International Labour Standards.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:

“While our Government is making sure that Australians make more and keep more of what they earn, we are also ensuring that their working conditions are safe and supportive.

“This is a major milestone for Australian workers. We are demonstrating Australia’s leadership and ongoing commitment to workers’ rights, as well as internationally agreed rules, norms and standards.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt:

“By ratifying these conventions, Australia sends a powerful message: we respect the fundamental rights of all workers.

“As such, Australia upholds all fundamental international labour rights and is a fair, safe and secure place to work and do business.

“Through the Albanese Government’s workplace law changes and ratifying these Conventions, we are delivering secure jobs and better pay to Australian workers.

“Australia is committed to workplace health and safety as a fundamental principle and right at work.”

Anthony Albanese’s worthless inquiry into the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has this week delivered a report that tells us nothing we don’t already know. It validates One Nation’s demand for a Royal Commission.

It says human rights were “restricted” (read: violated). It says responses across jurisdictions were “varied” and that this “undermined public confidence and trust.”. It says these “differences were not easily explained, and no rationale was provided,” including “unilateral” state border closures that “lacked consistency and compassion.”.

The report argues for greater transparency in future pandemic responses while noting “economic, social, and mental health and human rights impacts were not always understood or considered” in 2020. Let’s say that again, with feeling: human rights were not considered.

The report—more than 800 pages—was critical of “control measures” implemented by the authorities without sufficient explanation, which “fed the perception that the government did not trust the public to understand or interpret the information correctly and contributed to the decrease in trust.”.

The report admitted that COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions had the biggest negative impact on trust: “The combination of mandatory measures and the perception people had that they were unable to criticise or question decisions and policies has contributed to non-mandated vaccination rates falling to dangerously low levels.”.

It’s nothing that One Nation wasn’t saying during the pandemic itself. That was the time to implement a coordinated, consistent approach. That was the time to act to protect human rights that were being routinely violated by state and territory authorities—not two years after the pandemic, but during the pandemic.

The report doesn’t name the premiers and chief ministers who were responsible for it, all of whom have since moved on except the ACT’s Andrew Barr. The report does nothing to reveal the ‘expert’ health advice that led to the lockdowns and mandates. As we said it would be, the report is essentially worthless, just like the enquiry that preceded it because it would hold no one accountable.

The Albanese government’s response is straight out of the Labor playbook: create another agency, in this case an Australian centre for disease control, at a cost of $251 million. More unelected bureaucrats and health ‘experts’ telling us what to do, funded with yet more taxpayers’ money. There’s no problem that Labor doesn’t think it can fix by spending even more of your money to create a new agency.

Centre for disease control? Why do we get the feeling that really means ‘centre for social and political control’?

Only a comprehensive Royal Commission into the management of the pandemic will have the power to compel the information that Australians have every right to see and hold to account the authorities and state and territory leaders who gleefully trampled all over the rights they had a duty to protect.