2017-11-29
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.
“Considering it was the Turnbull Government who inflicted this survey on the LGBTIQ community, redirecting the unspent money from the postal survey towards mental health services would be the right and compassionate thing to do.
“There is clear evidence that the postal survey had a negative impact on the mental health of many LGBTIQ Australians, most distressing is this was forewarned by experts in the sector”, said Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.
“Services such as Reachout saw a 40% increase and Switchboard saw a 35% increase in people accessing their services during the period of the survey. Lives were put at risk by this national survey.
“The Turnbull Government must do the right thing and put resources into the mental health sector so they can begin to address the fallout before more lives are put at risk”.