The Gap features in mental health policies

The federal election has forced both major parties to include Sydney suicide spot The Gap in mental health policy announcements during the election campaign.

The Gap was specifically mentioned in Labor’s $277 million suicide prevention and mental health policy, which allocates $9 million to improve safety at suicide ‘hotspots.’ The Labor government would also provide additional funding to Lifeline to establish phone counselling lines from the site.

Labor Candidate for Wentworth Steven Lewis welcomed these measures. “Mental health is an important issue for local communities across Australia, including in Watsons Bay,” he said.

But Liberal Wentworth MP Malcolm Turnbull dismissed the announcement as more Labor spin, pointing out this policy would require Woollahra Council to re-apply for the funding, with no guarantee of success, and funds would not become available until July next year. The Coalition is promising to fully fund this project if elected.

Woollahra Mayor Andrew Petrie is pushing for immediate support of the council’s masterplan for The Gap. “This project has been on the drawing board for three years, it has widespread support, it is the only national suicide hotspot of its kind and the project is ready to go.”

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– By Hamish Boland Rudder