Young Liberals launch Save Medicare campaign
The Young Liberal Movement of Australia today launched its Save Medicare campaign; to protest Anthony Albanese and Labor’s cuts to Medicare-funded mental health services.
The first action of the campaign is the launch of a petition to call upon the Albanese Labor Government to reverse its cuts to mental health services.
The Medicare cuts to mental health were revealed yesterday, when the Albanese Labor Government Health Minister Mark Butler announced that they would be cutting Medicare-funded mental health sessions available through the Better Access initiative from 20 sessions to just 10.
Medicare funded mental health support was increased from 10 to 20 health sessions by the former Liberal National Government last year in response to a rapid rise in mental health care needs.
Clark Cooley, Federal President of the Young Liberals, said “These cuts to Medicare by the Albanese Government will hurt the most vulnerable hardest. Young Australians will be especially affected by these cuts as we face a national youth mental health crisis.”
Mr Cooley continued “Mr Albanese said during the election that Labor would protect Medicare, these cuts show that was a lie.“
Mr Cooley concluded “Mental health funding has been a largely bipartisan issue since the launch of Headspace by the Howard Government in 2006. The former Liberal National Government increased funding to Medicare to provide additional and necessary mental health support, now Anthony Albanese’s cuts will devastate Australians requiring this service.”
You can join the campaign, and sign the petition to Save Medicare funding for mental health services here: www.youngliberal.org.au/savemedicare
ENDS
The Young Liberal Movement is the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia, open to anyone aged between 16 and 31 years. Our Movement is a centre-right, mainstream political organisation with a political philosophy focussed on limited government power, low taxes, individual responsibility, a focus on the family and a strong belief in rewarding initiative and private enterprise.