The Government welcomes the contribution of the Senate
Reference Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and
Trade’s report into the mental health of Australian
Defence Force (ADF) members and veterans and will
carefully consider the Inquiry report and its
recommendations.
The Government takes the wellbeing of current and former ADF members
very seriously and funding for mental health treatment
services is demand driven, it is not capped. The
Government is focussed on early intervention strategies
to treat mental illness early.
This Government has invested in expansion of
non-liability health care provisions to treat mental
health conditions, improved the time taken to process
compensation claims and, in the 2015-16 Budget, funded
additional case coordinators to support clients with
complex needs, including those with mental health
conditions.
The Opposition’s call for the Minister for Defence to
demand that the Inspector General of the Australian
Defence Force release a report into the use of
anti-malarial drug mefloquine are misguided on a number
of fronts.
Firstly, the IGADF’s investigation on this matter is
ongoing, so any request to release the report is
premature – there is no final report at this point in
time.
Secondly, the IGADF is a statutory appointment and
the Minister for Defence does not have the discretion to
release its reports. The release of IGADF investigations
is determined by the IGADF on a case by case basis, and
with due consideration of privacy and legal issues.
Current and former ADF personnel who have concerns
relating to the ADF use of anti-malarial medication are
encouraged to visit the "Malaria, mefloquine and the
ADF" website through the ADF Health & Wellbeing Portal
on the Department of Defence website.
Anyone who believes their health has been affected by
their use of mefloquine or tafenoquine during their ADF
service is encouraged to lodge a claim with the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
