Budget expected to benefit mental health programs
5th May 2011 - Medical Observer
Shannon McKenzie and AAP all articles by this authorMENTAL health has been tipped as a major winner in next week’s Budget, with fresh predictions that the Gillard Government will tip around $2 billion into that area.
Part of the mental health plan would involve establishing a $50 million Mental Health Commission, charged with ensuring people’s minds are treated with as much care as their bodies.
The prediction from media source AAP and mental health experts comes as Health Minister Nicola Roxon this week admitted mental health had "for many decades really fallen between all the gaps".
Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, is confident the Government will deliver on its promise to make mental health a priority.
However, the rest of the health portfolio is unlikely to see a vast increase in new funding, with the Gillard Government still finalising its $16 billion hospital reform deal struck with states and territories.
Labor promised to consider investment in dental care as part of the deal that saw the Australian Greens help deliver Julia Gillard a minority government.
But due to the summer's natural disasters, and the continued promises to return the Budget to surplus, a universal Denticare scheme looks unlikely.
Greens spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert admitted as much.
"We're hoping we're going to see the start of the Government's commitment to dental reform and to progress towards a Denticare system," Ms Siewert told AAP this week.
"But we're realistic and we don't expect to see it all at once."
Reported cuts to medical research totalling $400 million are unlikely to be in the budget following a backlash from scientists.
Part of the mental health plan would involve establishing a $50 million Mental Health Commission, charged with ensuring people’s minds are treated with as much care as their bodies.
The prediction from media source AAP and mental health experts comes as Health Minister Nicola Roxon this week admitted mental health had "for many decades really fallen between all the gaps".
Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, is confident the Government will deliver on its promise to make mental health a priority.
However, the rest of the health portfolio is unlikely to see a vast increase in new funding, with the Gillard Government still finalising its $16 billion hospital reform deal struck with states and territories.
Labor promised to consider investment in dental care as part of the deal that saw the Australian Greens help deliver Julia Gillard a minority government.
But due to the summer's natural disasters, and the continued promises to return the Budget to surplus, a universal Denticare scheme looks unlikely.
Greens spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert admitted as much.
"We're hoping we're going to see the start of the Government's commitment to dental reform and to progress towards a Denticare system," Ms Siewert told AAP this week.
"But we're realistic and we don't expect to see it all at once."
Reported cuts to medical research totalling $400 million are unlikely to be in the budget following a backlash from scientists.
5th May 2011
5:21pm