A Sunshine Coast MP has welcomed Labor reassessing its decision to rip millions in funding that supports crucial frontline workers from its first budget.
The Coalition originally backed the region’s 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.
But in its latest budget, Labor axed the $7.5 million in funding from Fortem, leaving them unable to open services and outreach programs on the Sunshine Coast.
Upon the news the funding had been axed, Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace accused Labor’s priorities of being “out of whack” and that “Anthony Albanese should hang his head in shame”.
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Mr Wallace and Fortem Australia urgently called on the Government to reverse the cut.
Within a few days, Labor has now decided to provide full-funding to Fortem, allowing the organisation to continue their program to assist more emergency personnel with mental health care in the region.
An expansion of programs will also help provide services to regional areas including: Townsville, Ballina, Albury-Wodonga, Gippsland, Dubbo, Nowra, Newcastle, Darwin, Launceston, and Perth.
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. It also supports the difficulties experienced by other emergencies like traffic accidents and domestic violence scenes.
Mr Wallace said Labor’s decision would “undoubtedly be a welcome relief for our first responders in important regional locations.”
“This backflip is timely, as we continue to experience devastating floods and as we approach the annual fire season,” Mr Wallace said.
“We need to do so much better for our men and women in uniform – our police, our fire services, our paramedics, and SES – that put themselves in harm’s way.
“They run toward incidents that most of us would run away from. We know that many of these men and women struggle, particularly with post traumatic stress disorder.
“I’m very pleased that the Prime Minister has stood up and restored that funding … I want to encourage him to provide ongoing funding to such a terrific charity.”
Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said “We have always said we want the best outcome for first responders so they can get the right help when they need it”.
“We recognise the Coalition promised Fortem a $10 million grant. Fortem based their service plans on that promise, but the Coalition never delivered the funds,” Mr Watt said.
“We’ve listened and have worked all week to get this sorted.
“On Friday morning we announced we would make available the remaining $7.5m that was promised by the previous Coalition Government but never delivered.
Mr Watt said the reinstated funding was in addition to the $2.5m we have already provided to Fortem this financial year as a stopgap measure.
“And is yet another instance where we have to clean up the mess the Coalition left us, which has always been our priority here.”
In Labor’s original response, a Government spokesperson said “Before the election, Fortem began to spend the funding based on the announcement and asked the new Government to urgently provide funding because of this,” the spokesperson said.
“In September, we provided $2 million as a stop gap to cover costs Fortem had already accumulated, and last week provided an additional $500,000 to ensure Fortem can continue to provide mental health services through the summer.
“We have been very clear that additional funding will be subject to a transparent tender process. It is appropriate that we run transparent tender processes to ensure value for money for taxpayers.”
The spokesperson said the Government takes the health of those who give their all in service of others seriously.
“Specialist clinical mental health support is available for First Responders through the National Mental Health Service for Emergency Service Workers and Volunteers,” they said.
READ MORE: Key takeaways for us all from latest federal budget.
