TV interview with Assistant Minister McBride, News24 Politics Now – 21 August 2026

Media event date: 21 August 2026 Date published: 21 August 2026 Media type: General public HOST, TOM CONNELL: Well, we are in an era in which people are encouraged to get access wherever they can and wherever they need to for mental health. Still, there is often a disconnect between people feeling as if they need it and taking that actual step. The government today is spruiking mental health walk-in centres that have seen an increase in numbers around the country.

Joining me live now is Assistant Mental Health Minister Emma McBride. Thank you for your time. So, these Medicare Mental Health Centres, the idea is it literally is walk in.

Often there is a bit of a step, I guess, a mental hurdle of going, I'm struggling here, but then taking that step. So this is about what? Just ease of that initial appointment, that initial, you know, reaching out?

ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: It is. Sometimes the hardest step someone can take in seeking support is the first step. And we wanted to create a new front door so that any Australian who is struggling with their mental health would know that they can walk in without an appointment, without a diagnosis and be able to receive support that was tailored to their individual needs.

I worked in mental health inpatient units for many years and I saw people whose distress escalated to crisis simply because they couldn't get the support they needed - sometimes that was waiting for a referral, waiting for an appointment, large out-of-pocket costs. So we wanted to make sure that we removed any of those barriers to care. And I was so pleased to be in Canberra this morning at a Medicare Mental Health Centre with a local resident who had access care there - someone living with schizophrenia, who'd had a recent episode of psychosis, who couldn't afford to see a psychiatrist but was able to go to the Medicare Mental Health Centre and see a psychiatrist for free and have three follow-up appointments until she was, you know, back and thriving.

Regarding the access, though, do you have numbers on- you know, is it still oversubscribed? Are there numbers of people getting turned away each year that turn up and they say we're full today? This is a new network that we're rolling across the country.

We've opened 56 so far. Anyone who comes to a centre will be able to be seen. They'll be welcomed in a- [Interrupts] They're guaranteed to be seen that day?

People who walk into the centre will be seen that day. They'll be either given information, advice or they'll have an initial assessment. And it may be that they- [Interrupts] Right.

So it's not necessarily an appointment assessment, depending on how many people turn up that day? Well, it would depend on the person's individual needs, but they will be greeted in a welcoming and safe place where they'll have an initial assessment. It may be that the information and advice they need is provided on that day by a social worker or a counsellor.

It might be that they do then have follow-up appointments again for free under Medicare. Some criticism of the government on mental health to do with veterans. There’s the Allied Health that they can access and a cap being put on this.

Was it a mistake to be looking to save $700 million in this area and the way it's been attempted? I've spoken to veterans and to allied health practitioners, and what this was designed to do was to make it easier for veterans to access allied health support. Veterans have spoken to me about the burden of having to go back to see a GP for another referral after they've had 12 appointments.

So now, with the introduction of the cap, that reduces the burden on GPs. Also, as part of this, we've increased what we pay to providers which is expanding the number of allied health practitioners that are available to see veterans. And importantly to note, Tom and for your viewers, that any veteran who needs support beyond the cap will be provided by it.

Well, they have to- not necessarily, have to go through the department to get assessed, so it's not automatic. That's where the point- to get assessed. [Talks over] Well, what it will mean is- But there are veterans that aren't happy with that aspect, aren't there? You have to go in through the department again.

As a clinician myself I understand this has been designed to improve access, to have more allied health professionals available to veterans, and also to make sure that if it is clinically indicated, veterans will have further support provided to them. But if it's only about increasing access and having more professionals available, why does it save $700 million?

I think really, and the Minister has spoken to this, this is really about increasing access to veterans to allied health. And I understand that most veterans- But it does save money in the budget? That's the line item on it.

There are savings associated with it. But what I think is the main point here, as someone who has worked as an allied health professional myself including in more regional communities, that increasing the number of allied health professionals that are available by boosting the funding to providers, by reducing the burden of having to go back to see the GP for a new referral after 12 visits.

And I think this really will improve access to veterans. And as I said- [Interrupts] Okay. Sorry, I've got one more thing to get through, but the mental health link again on gambling.

So, given your experience as a professional, was it disappointing to see inducements remain? That betting companies can still use inducements to lure gamblers back in? They might have lost $200 in a day and get a text saying, hey, here's a deposit match.

This really historic reform and it's the greatest action that any Commonwealth Government has taken to reduce gambling harms. We've listened, and the Minister and the Prime Minister have both spoken about the historic nature of these reforms. What I'm really keen to see, as both the Assistant Minister and a former mental health worker myself, are these reforms introduced.

Because we need to see the reduction in advertising, particularly to children and young people. We've strengthened BetStop so people can opt out, and this has now been introduced about three years ago. We've seen significant changes through BetStop.

And what I'm really focused on with my responsibilities is seeing the legislation, now it's through, implemented so that we can see a real reduction in harm. Right. The Murphy Review, there's a lot of things that haven't been taken up in this and inducements have stood out to a lot of people.

What's the argument for keeping inducements? What's the good of them? We've cracked down on inducements and- But they're still allowed.

The recommendation was they should be scrapped and they're still allowed - that's the reality. Well, we have cracked down significantly. And as I said, my focus as a former mental health worker and as someone responsible for mental health in our Government, is to see the legislation that's been passed introduced, and harm-reduced properly.

Emma McBride, we're going to leave it there. Thank you. The Hon Emma McBride MP Mental health and suicide prevention Allied health care Accessibility We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

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