Not a single cent of $6.3 million promised to improve mental health among the fly-in fly-out workforce has been spent, with a union describing the situation as “absolutely disgraceful”.
The Department of Health had the cash allocated in the 2020-21 budget, earmarked to increase specialised early intervention mental health support and suicide prevention services for FIFO workers.
In spruiking the funding, it recognised FIFO workers had higher than average rates of anxiety and depression, suffered higher rates of suicidal intent and were more likely to have poor mental health in general.
But during Senate estimates hearings last week, it emerged not a cent had been spent.
“The $6.3 million is sitting untouched, with contracts not even signed,” the Electrical Trades Union said on Tuesday.
ETU acting national secretary Michael Wright called on the federal government to act immediately, saying the money should have been used last year.
“This is another failure to deliver by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and it’s FIFO workers, who are essential to our economy, who are bearing the cost,” Mr Wright said.
“He’s all smiles when he wears the hi-vis, but when the cameras switch off so does he.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful.”
Mr Wright said FIFO woxjmtzywrkers were “living through the perfect storm for a mental health crisis”.
“They have to choose between having a job or seeing their family.
“Workers who test positive (to Covid-19) on-site have to self-isolating in a four-by-four room that’s little more than a cell.”
Putting the funding to work was the least Mr Morrison could do “when lives are at stake”, Mr Wright said.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said the funding was now part of the 2021-22 budget.
“As this requires highly specialised mental health and suicide prevention support services specifically designed for the construction and/or mining industries, a competitive select grant opportunity process is being undertaken,” she said.
“The grant opportunity opened on January 10 and closed on February 11.
“Applications are now being assessed by the Department of Health.”
One of 42 findings from a West Australian government inquiry into the issue, handed down in a 2015 report, was that FIFO accommodation was “qualitatively different to private accommodation and … should therefore be subject to the same occupational safety and health regulations as a workplace”.
Mental health support
