Bill Shorten has announced a new $115 million pledge to Indigenous health that focuses on preventing youth suicide as he campaigns in the Northern Territory today.
Mr Shorten said the Indigenous health package, which would direct almost $30 million to Indigenous youth mental health and suicide prevention, ensures First Australians have ‘the fundamental right to grow old’ and said improving the health of First Australians is critical to reconciliation.
Figures from 2018 show 40 per cent of youth suicides were of Indigenous youth, despite them only accounting for about 5 per cent of children aged 17 or younger.
Labor’s pledged $115 million of health funding would also see $25 million directed to rheumatic heart disease, $20 million for sexual health campaigning, and $13 million for vision loss prevention.
If anything we have discussed today has affected you, there are services to help. You can contact Lifeline at anytime by calling 13 11 14, or visit lifeline.org.au.