Rewritten mental health report scrubs critical findings, doubles progress
An independent report on Victoria's mental health reforms was significantly altered before publication to present a more favorable view of government progress. Critics and the report's original author have raised concerns regarding the transparency and credibility of the revised findings.
Why it matters
This incident raises serious questions about government accountability and the integrity of independent oversight bodies in public policy.
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Share A A A An independent report that found just 54 of the government’s 270 promised mental health reforms had been completed was reworked ahead of its publication to credit it with doubling progress on royal commission recommendations.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s original report also had its judging criteria changed, its ratings improved, and its most critical findings removed in the months after it was first presented to the government.
The delayed release and reworking of the report has drawn criticism over the stalled overhaul of the sector following the royal commission and raised concerns that the government is undermining the independence of bodies meant to hold it to account.
Even the original report’s author, former commissioner Annabel Brebner, cast doubt over the credibility of the re-worked findings.
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