15th of April, 2025, 2:30pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Western Metro MP David Ettershank wants to know why Melbourne’s west only got a meagre share of the $1 billion Labor committed to delivering free, public mental health care if re-elected.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to upgrade or extend mental health centres around Australia, including 14 hubs in Victoria. New mental health centres will be built in Cranbourne, Glen Iris, and Torquay.
In Western Metropolitan Region, only the Melton and Sunshine youth mental health ‘Headspace’ centres received grants to extend services.
“The upgrades are welcome, but the fact is that there is a huge raft of west and north-west Melbourne that are deserts in terms of access to mental health services,” said Mr Ettershank from Legalise Cannabis Victoria.
“And not one new adult Medicare Mental Health Centre will be built in the west from this billion-dollar pledge.
“It is deeply regrettable that the government could not find its way to provide mental health services to literally hundreds of thousands of Melburnians who live in the western and northwestern parts of the city.”
Legalise Cannabis Gorton candidate Xavier Menta said cost-of-living pressures are impacting the mental health of many in the seat of Gorton.
“All around Melton, we have huge mortgage belts that are hurting,” Mr Menta said.
“We are talking about young families with children, and the cost-of-living stressors are having terrible consequences; for example, many family support services are seeing a rise in domestic violence.
“Families in the West are also facing a lack of GPs and specialist health services, poor public transport and clogged roads. Infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth.
“We are feeling the impact of successive government’s failure to properly service new communities and provide infrastructure equity. That just magnifies the need for more mental health services.”
People seeking mental health support can phone the Medicare Mental Health hotline on 1800 595 212 or go online at medicarementalhealth.gov.au to find free services nearest to them.
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