The Greens have criticised the McGowan’s government’s recently announced commitment to increase funding to LGBTI+ mental health services in WA as “inadequate and half-hearted.”
The government have allocated $30,000 to each Living Proud WA and the WA AIDS Council to assist WA’s LGBTI+ community with mental health needs ahead of the postal survey on marriage equality, and an additional $200,000 has been made available for grants.
Spokesperson for Mental Health, Alison Xamon, said she was relieved that the government had recognised the need for increased assistance ahead of the survey, but the announcement still falls short of what is likely to be needed after Living Proud’s funding grant expired earlier this year.
“The $30,000 provided to Living Proud falls woefully short of the $80,000 which was pulled from the organisation by the McGowan Government in June,” Xamon said.
“Restoring less than half of the funding needed to adequately run the organisation is insulting at best and negligent at worst. There is still no long-term solution proposed.”
“Likewise, the funding for suicide prevention was always in the budget and had been announced long before the Federal Government decided to undertake its divisive postal survey on equal marriage,” Xamon continued.
“Although I am glad the timing for the call for tenders has been brought forward, it is not new money.”
The Greens MLC for the North Metropolitan region said she is still very concerned for the mental health of the LGBTIQ+ community, and that now is not the time to reduce funding for any specialised mental health service for the community.
“We have already gone backwards in funding these essential mental health and suicide prevention services, the announcement today isn’t really promising anything new and my calls for urgent investment in this space remain.”
OIP Staff
Do you need some support?
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyondblue: and www.beyondblue.org.au
QLife: and www.qlife.org.au
QLife are a counselling and referral service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people.
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