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Act quickly to rectify de facto law mistake: Greens

The Greens support the Government’s plan to take swift action to rectify the failure to arrange for a start date of a law giving federal courts jurisdiction to settle property and maintenance disputes of de facto couples.

 “The Attorney-General must treat this as a matter of urgency. The Government has no choice but to introduce legislation retrospectively so thousands of settlements from March 2009 until early February this year are not in doubt,” Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, said.

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Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 13:37

Mental Health Estimates Questions

In the Supplementary Budget Estimates week, Penny Wright asked the Department of Health and Aging questions relating to the following mental health issues. Click on the links below to read the transcripts.

10 Year Roadmap for Mental Health Reform

Better Access

Targeted Mental Health Service Delivery

High Risk Groups

Mental Health Services for Regional, Rural and Remote Areas

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Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 - 10:40

Mental Health Services for Regional, Rural & Remote Areas

Community Affairs Committee
Wednesday 15 February 2012

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Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 - 09:30

High Risk Groups

Community Affairs Committee
Wednesday 15 February 2012

Senator WRIGHT: We know that some groups are at high risk of experiencing mental illness. For example, some of the groups that I am aware of are people in immigration detention, Indigenous Australians or Aboriginal Australians, people living in regional, rural and remote areas and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community. I am interested in whether or not the department are targeting any high-risk groups in your service delivery strategy. If so, what groups would they be, and what are the programs or services in terms of actually identifying particularly high-risk groups and working out what can be done for them?

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Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 - 09:28

Targeted Mental Health Service Delivery

Community Affairs Committee
Wednesday 15 February 2012

Senator WRIGHT: Can you tell me what types of mental illness, if any, have been identified for targeted service delivery and, if so, how were they identified?

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Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 - 09:23

Better Access

Community Affairs Committee
Wednesday 15 February 2012

Senator WRIGHT: I now have some questions regarding Better Access. As of January 2013 the number of treatment sessions available will be reduced from 16 to 10. In light of these projected changes to the Better Access program, what programs are currently being progressed to fill the likely need for services that will be caused by the changes that will come into effect on 1 January 2013?

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Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 - 09:20

10 Year Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform

Community Affairs Committee
Wednesday 15 February 2012

Senator WRIGHT: Thank you for your attendance today. Good afternoon. First of all I would like to ask you some questions about the Ten Year Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform. What consultation was conducted as part of the lead-up and process in drafting the Ten Year Road Map for National Mental Health Reform?

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Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 - 09:17

Penny’s Blog – Seventy Years Ago Today

This year will mark some dark moments in our recent history.  Seventy years ago, today, on 19 February 1942, saw the WW2 bombing of Darwin in two separate raids, resulting in more than 240 people being killed, and hundreds more injured.

All around Australia people will be passing this anniversary in various ways. For my part, I will be remembering those who died or were injured defending our country – and the many, many civilians who were – and are always - inevitably caught up in the conflict.

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Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2012 - 11:10

Wars’ invisible scars go deep

The Australian Greens will tomorrow pay tribute to service personnel and civilians who lost their lives in the bombing of Darwin, the first and largest direct attack of mainland Australia.

Greens spokesperson for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, said the 70th anniversary of the bombings tomorrow was a timely reminder of the enduring costs of war.

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Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2012 - 13:53

BEST Funding

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
Wednesday 15 February 2012

Senator WRIGHT: Good evening, gentlemen. Thank you for your time tonight. I have some questions regarding the BEST funding. Based on the recommendation of the review of DVA funded ESO, advocacy and welfare services final report of December 2010, I understand that funding to organisation under the Building Excellence in Support and Training program, the BEST program, will be cut by up to 30 per cent at 1 July 2012. Based on that background, I have a few questions. The first one—

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Posted on Friday, February 17, 2012 - 16:28
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