Too important to be political football

THE Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction had a special plea to politicians in its 219page report, released yesterday.

‘‘Mental health is too important to be a political football,’’ it urged, recommending a crossparty working group on mental health.

Those pleas seemingly fell on deaf ears, with National giving the ‘‘football’’ an almighty boot within three hours of the report’s release.

Other political parties issued statements which emphasised doing more to support people with mental illness, or the need to take a compassionate, healthbased approach.

National’s mental health spokesman Matt Doocey, on the other hand, got the ball rolling with ‘‘these were all provided for in our

$100 million fund which should have been supporting New Zealanders’ mental health for almost a year’’, before crossing with ‘‘given that a number of the recommendations follow the approach National was taking, the previous comments by the Health Minister that he will accept all recommendations in the report are welcomed.’’

Mr Doocey then finished off the move with ‘‘With the government periodically doling out a $3 billion regional slush fund surely it can prioritise funding to support the mental health of New Zealanders now?’’

The Waimakariri MP is nothing if not consistent — these moves have been well practised on the training pitch.

As Mr Doocey pointed out, National has previously called for a crossparty working group on mental health.

Having had their kick about, it remains to be seen whether our politicians merely talk a mean game or if all parties can play a good, clean contest with no fouls.