Key events
Mental Health Australia chair says Labor failing to deliver on mental health
The chair of Mental Health Australia, Matt Berriman, has waded into the debate surrounding the Albanese government’s decision to halve the number of Medicare-funded psychology sessions.
Berriman, speaking to the SMH, said the cuts reflected wider concerns on how the government is approaching mental health, saying action was necessary “yesterday”.
We need added services and action yesterday, not less.
The new government should make mental health a key priority, which has seemed to have been lost since taking power. Where’s Labor’s plan for mental health in this country?
We don’t need more roundtables; we need real reform urgently.
From lived experience, we know complex mental ill health can’t and won’t be solved with just 10 sessions. There’s no cap on GP visits, so why is mental health diminished in its access versus physical health?
Man to face court over Melbourne apartment death
AAP is reporting that a man has been charged over the death of a Chinese woman in an apartment in Melbourne’s CBD.
The 31-year-old’s body was discovered by friends at the flat in La Trobe Street on Tuesday night.
A 22-year-old Huntingdale man was taken into custody in Preston, in the city’s north, by detectives from the homicide cquad.
He has now been charged with one count each of murder, robbery and theft.
It’s believed the man and woman were known to each other.
The man will face Melbourne magistrates court on Friday.
Good morning
Good morning everyone, Mostafa Rachwani with you this morning from rainy Sydney, and ready to take you through the day’s news.
We begin in New South Wales, where the township of Menindee is expecting major flooding today as the Darling River threatens to swamp homes.
The State Emergency Service has issued an evacuation order for residents ahead of escape routes being cut off. We’ll bring you more as it comes in.
Elsewhere, we are expecting the arts minister, Tony Burke, to speak at the Woodford festival today, where he will be outlining the government’s “ambitious plans to stimulate the arts in Australia”.
The policy comes after the government spent six months consulting with artists and industry leaders, and is set for a formal launch in January.
We are also expecting Covid case numbers today, with some concern that Christmas may have brought a spike in case numbers or deaths, just as numbers have begun plateauing.
There is still much going on, so let’s dive in.
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