Senator Perin Davey – Shadow Minister for Emergency Management, Deputy Leader of the Nationals
The Hon Karen Andrews MP – Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence
Melissa McIntosh MP – Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Phillip Thompson OAM MP – Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence
Pat Conaghan MP – Shadow Assistant Minister for Social Services, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
Andrew Wallace MP – Federal Member for Fisher
8 November 2022
At a time when Australia has been experiencing widespread and devastating flooding in multiple states, the Albanese Government has chosen to rip funding from our crucial frontline workers.
The Coalition Government backed in our essential first responders by providing $10 million over two years to charity organisation Fortem Australia, for essential mental health and wellbeing support for those assisting during natural disasters.
However, Labor’s first Budget ripped $8 million in funding from the organisation, which means they are unable to open services in important regional locations like Townsville, Ballina, Albury-Wodonga, Gippsland, Dubbo, Nowra, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Darwin, Launceston and Perth.
Labor is ripping money from regional Australia, just like they did with the Building Better Regions Fund. Labor’s blatant carelessness for the wellbeing of our first responders needs immediate rectification. The Opposition is calling on Labor to urgently reverse this funding cut.
The Coalition supports our first responders, who perform a vital role in the community, supporting vulnerable people in urgent need, such as during bushfires or floods.
First responders work in highly challenging and often dire conditions, they are regularly exposed to traumatic experiences, face long hours under constant pressure, and are required to make critical decisions with a moment’s notice.
Ripping $8 million in emergency personnel wellbeing and mental health program funding from the recent Budget shows Labor isn’t interested in taking care of the mental health and wellbeing of those front-line personnel who are out there providing emergency support to their communities during a disaster.
The Coalition Government funded Fortem – an experienced organisation – with $10 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of natural disaster responders following their successful delivery of a similar program by competitive tender after the Black Summer Bushfires.
Fortem programs give first responders the tools they need to be healthier, more resilient, and better equipped to cope with the challenges that come with working in natural disaster zones.
PTSD is one of the most prevalent injuries suffered by first responders working in challenging and dangerous situations and Fortem has demonstrated significant experience in running similar successful resilience and wellbeing programs for Australia’s frontline personnel.
These programs include support for workers who may be reluctant to seek help by ensuring they can connect to clinical services and other avenues to engage, talk, and seek assistance for mental health issues.
The organisation needs the full funding to ensure successful delivery of a national program to provide psychological support, wellbeing activities and mental health literacy training specifically designed for first responders.
Only the Coalition will ensure strong support for our law enforcement agencies and emergency services personnel to keep Australians safe.