Productivity Commissioner Selwyn Button says the national plan for mental health and suicide prevention isn’t fit for purpose and major reform is needed, with adequate funding and access to support key areas that need improvement

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now a report by the Productivity Commission released this week
has found that the National Plan to Improve Mental Health
and Prevent Suicide is not fit for purpose. The Commission's
been reviewing the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement,
which outlines commitments by the Federal government and state and
territory governments to improve the mental health of Australians. Well,

(00:23):
it's an interim report and it revealed that the agreement
was fundamentally flawed and made no real improvements to the
mental health system since it was signed in twenty twenty two.
Now joining me on the line to tell us more
is Commissioner Selwyn Button. Good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Selwyn, good morning, thanks for having me, Thank.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
You so much for your time. Now, why is the
National Plan flawed.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
So that there's some structural issues in the National Plan.
What we do have is a plan which has been
signed up by state territory governments which sets out some
lofty objectives and attached to that plan for each statement territory. Essentially,
what is bilateral which is the implementation of the initiatives
that focus on achieving the objectives. Now, the issue that
we've got with the plan and the implementation plan itselves

(01:11):
with the overall agreement to implementation plans, is that the
initiatives that in the implementation plans to states and territories
don't actually get to the heart of reforming the system
and don't meet those lofty objectives that have been signed
up in the agreement.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
So are people getting the care that they need.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
But the care is being provided. But what we do
have is a fragmented system. Because when we took about
reform and ensoying that we're improving access for rule, ensuring
that we're delivering services that meet the need, and reforming
the system to better respond to the needs of the community,
those things aren't being dealt with or we're dealing with
at the moment. Is an increase in the delivery of services,

(01:52):
but not getting to the heart of the real reform
that's required for the sector.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
So what are some of the key areas where we
need improvement?

Speaker 2 (02:00):
So what we need to do is to go back
to some really basic things. One thing in terms of
setting the foundation for what a new agreement should look
like and if we want a fundamentally reform the system
is developing a new national strategy. And the national strategy
that's actually signed up by states and territories because the
last one that was actually that was written and agreed
to by all states and territories were developed in two

(02:22):
thousand and eight. So it's been a long time there's
been a national strategy that's agreed by all states and territories. Well,
we're suggesting that let's go back to the drawing board,
let's start there.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Well, and I would imagine that since that time, so
much has changed in terms of, you know, the care
that's even provided and the ways in which we care
for people with mental health issues.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, certainly, and the experiences of Australians that are describing
issues relating to mental health and suicidality, those things have
changed significantly. There's been a number of things, including COVID
that's happened during that time as well, So there's been
a number of extern factors that have impacted upon the

(03:02):
mental health experiences of Australia. So we do need to
rethink what are we actually collectively focused.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
On, Commissioner. When you look at I mean obviously you know,
looking broadly nationally across you know, right around the nation,
and the ways in which we are you know, looking
after people with mental health I would imagine is quite
different then when you get to more regional and even
more rural parts of Australia. I mean we very often

(03:30):
here here in the Northern Territory that people struggle to
get the support that they need.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yeah, look, an access to services is an issue right
across the board, but certainly that issue becomes more prevalent
when you look at rural and remote areas that access
to services, access to specialists like psychologists and psychiatrists, those
things in some places are as rare as tends to Yeah,
they were do need to look at some of those
workforce components. There was a workforce strategy that was developed

(03:59):
as part of the the National Agreements, which has been
signed off. The issue with the National Workforce Strategy that's
out there at the moment is that there was never
any funds attached to implementing the initiatives. And that's the
worst of the government. Yes, it's great to have a strategy,
but you've got to resource it so we can actually
get some tracks on the ground.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
So the reality of this is that there actually needs
to be adequate funding to tackle the country's mental health crisis.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yes, so there does need to be funds attached to
make sure that the agreement achieves success. And that's not
just funding for the initiatives. That's all the funding, the
governance arrangements and ensuring that you've got the right people
sitting at the table informing new initiatives and new policy
to make sure at least we're getting things right and
reforming the system.

Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, So where to from here from the Productivity Commissions perspectives.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
So the next steps for us into reports are now
out in the public domain. We're now we're asking for
submissions to into findings and recommendations. So that process will
will remain in place until the thirty one thirty first
of July, and then we'll go out during August. We'll
undertake some public hearings where we'll go and speak to
individuals as we've done in the past and had some

(05:12):
conversations directly with not only with community but also service
providers and people in living experience with a view that
will be having our report to the Treasurer in October.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
So if people are keen to have these day, is
there a website or somewhere where they can go to
do so?

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, so you can people can jump online now if
you go to our website, which is a pretty football one.
It's PC dot gov dot au. You'll be able to
click through the links to start to have a look
at what's happening with a mental health inquiry and certainly
put in a submission in relation to what we're recommending
at the moment we'll.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
Commissioner sell one Button really appreciate your time this morning.
Thank you very much for chatting with us.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
No worry, thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
Thank you you too.