A caring society looks after everyone. Right now our mental health system is under pressure to provide care for all who need it.

Our plan for mental health will invest in quality mental health services so all Australians can get the help they need, when they need it.

We know that 45% of Australians will experience mental ill-health at some stage in their lives. That's why we need a strong mental health system to respond to the needs of Australians who are negotiating the challenges of mental illness. 

The 2013 Labor Budget will do little to ease the stress on Australians. Senator Penny Wright talks about what was in the budget and what more could be done in each of her portfolio areas.

Education

What's in the budget:

• $9.8 billion in new school funding
• $3 billion in next the next four years, $6 billion to come in the following two years

What I think:

I move that the Senate

notes that:

(i)      it is Schizophrenia Awareness Week;

(ii)    people affected by serious mental illness face critical challenges to achieving and maintaining the same physical health as other people in the community;

(iii)   such people are more vulnerable to coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and respiratory disease than those without serious mental illness; and

(iv)  their life expectancy is up to 25 years less than that of the general population; and

The 2013 Labor Budget will do little to ease the stress on country South Australians, say Australian Greens Senators Sarah Hanson Young and Penny Wright.

"Labor has spent more time listening to mining companies, the big banks and their factions than the people in rural and regional communities," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"The Greens stood up for regional South Australia during the Murray Darling Basin debate while our colleagues in the old parties and those upstream tried to sell us down the river.

A new report estimating the real costs of mental health services in Australia should be a wake-up call to the old parties, say Australian Greens spokesperson on Mental Health, Senator Penny Wright.

The report funded by Beyond Blue and Medibank said the real costs of mental health services was more than $28 billion, more than three time official government estimates.

"This is further evidence of the need for real action and real dedication from all levels of government," Senator Wright said.

The Australian Greens will query the effectiveness of mental health services for veterans, as extra funding for mental health was revealed in yesterday's Defence White Paper.

Australian Greens spokesperson for Mental Health and Veterans Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, welcomed the further funding, but suggested the full extent of veterans mental health needs was yet to be determined.

"The new generation of veterans returning from places like Iraq and Afghanistan will face considerable challenges," Senator Wright said.

Insurance exceptions allowing discrimination against people with mental ill-health must be re-examined, says Australian Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs and Mental Health, Senator Penny Wright.

Through the Senate Inquiry process beginning today, the Australian Greens will seek to amend the exceptions for insurance agencies to make the sector more transparent and accountable.

"It is very disappointing and unfair if these exceptions are being exploited by insurance companies," Senator Wright said.

Australian Greens spokesperson for Mental Health Senator Penny Wright will this week visit Orange to hear from locals about how mental health services can be improved in rural, regional and remote areas.

 The visit is part of a national tour to ensure the Australian Green's mental health policies are structured by the needs of communities.