Media Release

AUSTRALIAN Party Federal Leader Bob Katter has commended the Mount Isa community for its efforts toward securing a headspace in the city following today’s announcement by Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the expansion of the national youth mental health initiative to North-West Queensland.

"In reply to our question without notice in the Parliament, the Prime Minister gave undertakings on this, and we are pleased she has honoured those undertakings very expeditiously," said the Federal Member for Kennedy.

"But we’ve still got a long way to go, and we will need the State Government’s support."

The announcement followed the October 6 emergency suicide strategy forum in Mount Isa, which the Prime Minister tasked Mental Health Minister Mark Butler to attend as part of her response to Mr Katter during question time in Parliament in September.

As part of the forum, a petition was presented to Minister Butler calling for the Mount Isa to have a

headspace service – a national initiative that provides young people aged 12-25 with advice and support about general health; mental health and counselling; education, employment and other services; and alcohol and other drug services.

Mr Katter also welcomed advice from Minister Butler’s office that the Department of Health and Ageing and the

headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation would, within coming weeks, consult the community about the delivery of Mount Isa’s headspace, comprising a new ‘outpost service’ model that would be tailor-made to suit the city’s comparatively smaller youth population. The outpost service would be overseen by Townsville’s existing headspace centre and work with local organisations to explore how the outpost would best improve care and support for young people.

Meanwhile, Mr Katter said he had been advised that Minister Butler’s official report on the Mount Isa emergency forum was handed to the Prime Minister last week.