Embattled Health Minister Michael Ferguson has failed vulnerable residents on Flinders Island by cutting funding to crucial mental health services on the island.
Shadow Health Minister, Sarah Lovell, said she was shocked to hear today's news that Rural Alive & Well (RAW) would no longer be providing face-to-face suicide prevention and mental health wellbeing support services to the island due to a funding cut by the TAZREACH program under the Department of Health.
"RAW had been receiving $15,840 per year from TAZREACH since 2015 which covered the cost of travel for outreach workers to Flinders Island," Ms Lovell said.
"It is not a big sum of money for such a crucial service in the prevention of suicide and mental health support in an isolated area.
"Tasmania's suicide rate is amongst the worst in the country yet the Minister Michael Ferguson continues to cut funding to early intervention and preventative health.
"This Health Minister has shown he doesn't care about rural Tasmania and must now explain to residents on Flinders Island why he has cut funding to this vital service and tell them where they are now supposed to go for help."
Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Health Minister
