Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Minister for Mental Health, Tony Abbott, implemented up to 18 subsidised mental health sessions per year in 2006. Mark Butler cut that to 10 in 2011.
Scott Morrison's Liberal government later increased access to 20 sessions per year. Mark Butler, returning now as Health Minister again cuts that to 10 sessions.
The sessions were raised over 10 sessions for different reasons, but each time he cut them Mark Butler gave the same justifications when talking to the media, almost as if he made it up. It's clear he just wants to stop spending money on mental health care.
Interviews included here are
2011: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/reassessing-better-access-for-mental-health/3607920
2022: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/government-slashes-subsidised-psychology-sessions/101769542
Minister for Mental Health, Tony Abbott, implemented up to 18 subsidised mental health sessions per year in 2006. Mark Butler cut that to 10 in 2011.
Scott Morrison's Liberal government later increased access to 20 sessions per year. Mark Butler, returning now as Health Minister again cuts that to 10 sessions.
The sessions were raised over 10 sessions for different reasons, but each time he cut them Mark Butler gave the same justifications when talking to the media, almost as if he made it up. It's clear he just wants to stop spending money on mental health care.
Interviews included here are
2011: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/reassessing-better-access-for-mental-health/3607920
2022: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/government-slashes-subsidised-psychology-sessions/101769542
