Greens Candidate for Wentworth Matthew Robertson welcomed Julia Gillard’s announcement of additional funds for mental health, including funding for The Gap masterplan, but said this was too little, too late.
“Both Labor and Liberal governments have failed to adequately invest in mental health services, despite strong community need. “
“The Greens have proposed $5 billion of new funding for mental health over the next three years, including $100 million to fund community prevention and recovery centres and $145 million for early intervention programs,” Robertson said.
“We need much stronger support for public hospitals and preventative health measures. We live in one of the most affluent areas in Australia and yet it is virtually impossible for a public patient to get a Medicare funded knee or joint replacement. This means many people, especially pensioners, continue to suffer unnecessarily,” said Robertson.
“The Greens will act in Parliament to establish a universal basic dental health care scheme, to be incorporated into Medicare. This will assist the 500,000 Australians on dental waiting lists,” said Robertson.
“The Liberals and Labor are still taking donations from companies that undermine public health including tobacco companies, liquor and the junk food industry. This is undermining attempts to fight the epidemics of diabetes and obesity in the community.”
“The Greens do not accept donations from corporations and so are able to make policy based on the interests of communities, not big businesses,” Robertson said.