Canberra Liberals MLA Ed Cocks, Shadow Minister for Mental Health, claims that Emma Davidson MLA, Minister for Mental Health, was unable to answer basic questions about her own portfolio in Estimates Hearings this week.
Mr Cocks states that before the budget announcement, Ms Davidson published a media release claiming that the ACT Government was investing in a $15 million mental health package. However, he said, when questioned about the composition of the package, Ms Davidson was unable to list which budget measures the package comprised, and the breakdown of funding for each element.
Ms Davidson’s office said that the money Mr Cocks believes was cut relates to youth mental health programs; the strategic funding allocation (how it is spent) is what happens in the budget process, and there had been no funding cuts.
“The Minister was also unable to answer questions about offsets from existing programs and denied that they were funding cuts,” Mr Cocks said.
“The inability of the Minister to answer basic questions about her portfolio’s budget and structure raises significant doubts regarding her competency in the role.
“This latest display of ineptitude builds on the Minister’s track record of delays, budget blowouts and failures in a critical portfolio, including her failure to adequately address Canberra’s mental health workforce shortage, and failures to protect patient and community safety.
“The people of Canberra deserve better. They deserve competent leadership and genuine commitment to mental health care, not empty promises and inadequate oversight.”
Ms Davidson replied: “The ACT Government continues to increase investment in community mental health services, so people have greater access to care, sooner in their health journey. In this most recent Budget, we built upon and expanded services to support more people with mental health conditions.
“The ACT Government has not cut funding to any mental health service this term. We have also significantly improved the delivery of care and workplace safety in the Dhulwa adult mental health unit over the past two years.”
