Almost 55 per cent of Victorian mental health patients waited more than eight hours in an emergency department for an appropriate bed, yet Labor is delaying the release of the latest performance data until after Parliament rises.
The latest available data shows just 45.1 per cent of adults requiring transfer to a mental health bed were moved within eight hours.
Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Emma Kealy, said the delay was “a damning indictment of Labor’s failed mental health reforms”.
“Labor had the blueprint, it had the funds and it had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild Victoria’s mental health system.
“Instead, Labor has squandered that opportunity through five years of mismanagement, while vulnerable Victorians are paying the price.
“Ben Carroll promised to do things differently and be transparent, but this is more of the same Labor spin.
“Victorians deserve to know the truth about the state of our mental health system. Instead, Labor is withholding critical performance data and saying whatever it can to hoodwink Victorians and cling to power.
“A different Premier means the same Labor.
“Our doctors, nurses and mental health professionals are doing everything they can, but Labor has failed to deliver the reforms it promised and the capacity the workforce needs to keep up with growing demand for mental health services.
“If the figures are better, release them now. If they are worse, Victorians have a right to know.
“The Liberals and Nationals will get Victoria’s mental health reforms back on track, rebuild the workforce and restore the transparency and accountability Victorians deserve.”