Govt in hiding over siphoning of mental health funding

The Government is refusing to say why the Health Minister assured a select committee that mental health funding couldn’t be used for other purposes when she knew an inquiry was underway into the practice, says National Health Spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott.

In Parliament today Damien O’Connor, on behalf of the Minister, wouldn’t say why the Minister had not informed the select committee in September when she was asked about the use of mental health funding about an inquiry which had been underway for two months.

“The select committee had a right to be informed, to be assured that action was being taken to correct this situation. Instead the Minister gave a false assurance,” said Dr Scott.

“The Government has clearly got something to hide. I specifically asked the Minister about the ring-fencing of mental health funding at the select committee in September. The Minister made no mention of this inquiry about money being siphoned off.

“While the Government is playing down the inquiry, I am most concerned that our mental health services are lacking and under Labour mental health services have not been getting the funding and resourcing they need.

“The Government needs to get serious about mental health instead of treating it like a Cinderella service,” Dr Scott said.

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