CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MEDICARE
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT
JULIE COLLINS MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGEING AND MENTAL HEALTH
MEMBER FOR FRANKLIN
SENATOR MURRAY WATT
SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND
DES HARDMAN
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR FORDE
LUZ STANTON
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR FADDEN
TRACEY BELL
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR MONCRIEFF
LABOR WILL IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON THE GOLD COAST
A Shorten Labor Government will improve access to mental health services on the Gold Coast and reduce pressure on local emergency departments by building a $8 million mental health stabilisation facility near Gold Coast University Hospital.
We need real change – because more of the same isn’t good enough.
The Gold Coast region is growing rapidly, with the current population of 620,000 expected to reach more than 800,000 in a decade. This is causing a surge of emergency department presentations at the Gold Coast and Robina Hospitals.
Around 1 in 10 of these patients have acute mental health issues, such as suicidal ideation. Some of these patients are intoxicated, aggressive or disruptive – meaning an emergency department is not a safe space for them or other patients.
That’s why a Shorten Labor Government will invest $8 million to build a mental health stabilisation facility near Gold Coast University Hospital.
The facility will provide short-term observation, intervention and stabilisation services 24 hours a day. It will divert patients with acute mental health needs away from emergency departments and de-escalate their crisis so they can continue with their health care journey.
The facility will include a range of treatment options, from crisis chairs to beds. The exact mix of spaces, as well as the final location of the facility, will be determined in consultation with experts and the local community.
This election is a choice between better health and hospitals under a united Shorten Labor Government, versus more cuts and chaos under Scott Morrison and the LNP.
As Treasurer, Scott Morrison cut $11 million from Gold Coast University Hospital and $3.8 million from Robina Hospital from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Now, Morrison wants to cut another $28.6 million from Gold Coast University Hospital and $9.9 million from Robina Hospital between the election and 2024-25 – part of a $651 million cut to Queensland public hospitals and $2.8 billion cut nationally.
Labor will reverse these savage LNP cuts with our $2.8 billion Better Hospitals Fund – which includes projects such as this one.
Labor can afford to protect Medicare and fix our hospitals because we are tackling unfair tax loopholes and making multinationals pay their fair share.
Labor knows that you don’t improve our hospitals by cutting them. We need real change – because more of the same isn’t good enough.
If you want better hospitals not more cuts – vote Labor.
If you want a fair go for all Australians – vote Labor.
Funding for this commitment has been included in Labor’s Fair Go Budget Plan, available at http://www.alp.org.au/labors_fiscal_plan.
MONDAY, 13 MAY 2019