Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 3:07:20 to 3:09:32
Details on the $82.9 million funding extension for the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program and how this investment builds on previous commitments.
Topics: Health, Government spending
Speakers: Senator Anne Ruston, Gavin Matthews, Senator Ellie Whiteaker
>> sure and then I'm done on middle. Um, so on the 9th of September [clears throat] at the Suicide Prevention Australia World Suicide Prevention Day breakfast, the assistant minister for mental health, Emma McBride, announced an additional 82.9 million to the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program to extend the program for a further two years. Can you specify the exact financial years covered by that additional $82.9 million funding announcement?
>> So, there is funding in that for this financial year. [clears throat] So will be the next two financial years after this one.
>> I'm sorry.
>> So there is funding under that program for this current financial year in 26 27. So it's 2728 28 29.
>> Okay. And in that 82.9 million is that entirely new funding or has any of that funding been reallocated from existing mental health or suicide prevention programs?
>> Uh it has not been offset from within the uh mental health one from program 1.2 two that is new funding provided to
>> okay so it hasn't been offset from mental health or
>> super it's a new decision of government
>> okay so um so that's in addition to the previously announced 199.9 million over six years committed through the
>> well it would is terminating fun would have been terminating funding otherwise so the program would have terminated otherwise senator so
>> sorry so no let's be clear is the 82 2.9 in addition to the previously announced 199.9 million over 6 years is it or is it included within that 199.9
>> it would be an addition so that would I I assume that probably predates I mean that obviously goes back some years but it is it is an extension and continuation of the >> national suicide prevention leadership support program that would have terminated so it provides the extra two years of funding to continue that program for that period of time so it would build on the earlier their investment. So if there was an investment over six years it cost this much that would be up to the end of 30 June this year. Then the additional money would be for the next two years.
>> So clear it's additional. Okay. Thanks
J. Thank you Senator Ruston. Senator Antic.