Young Liberals call upon Anthony Albanese to restore Medicare mental health support
The Young Liberal Movement of Australia today called upon Anthony Albanese to restore Medicare funded mental health support, following his Labor Government’s savage cuts to the Better Access program.
From the first of January, Anthony Albanese’s cuts to Medicare mental health support came into effect, showing a complete neglect for the importance of accessible mental health support for Australians, and ignoring the advice of the Labor Government’s own report into the program.
The Better Access program has been operating since 2006, providing Medicare subsidised psychology sessions to all Australians. The program has been slashed by the Labor Government from 20 Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions to only 10 sessions, despite experts warning of a youth mental health crisis.
Clark Cooley, Federal President of the Young Liberals said, “Anthony Albanese’s cuts to mental health support will hurt those who are most vulnerable, especially young Australians who face a youth mental health crisis. This Labor Government is ignoring experts, peak bodies and medical professionals who have all called for these psychology sessions to be restored.”
Mr Cooley continued, “Young Australians are still facing the consequences of the pandemic, and the growing pressures that impact their lives. They need more support, not cuts to vital mental health services.”
Mr Cooley concluded, “Young Australians will suffer under these cuts to Medicare, at a time when they need support more than ever. Anthony Albanese and Labor have turned their back on vulnerable Australians needing their support.”
ENDS
The Young Liberal Movement is the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia, open to anyone aged between 16 and 31 years. Our Movement is a centre-right, mainstream political organisation with a political philosophy focussed on limited government power, low taxes, individual responsibility, a focus on the family and a strong belief in rewarding initiative and private enterprise.