21 June 2010 Kevin Rudd has again shown his spiteful true colours in Parliament today refusing to acknowledge the work of Professor John Mendoza for the government and for those who suffer mental health issues.
The Prime Minister never once mentioned Professor Mendoza when questioned about the Professor’s resignation as chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health.
Professor Mendoza quit in disgust at the Rudd Government’s failure to provide any leadership or significant funding for mental health in his so-called health ‘reforms’.
Shadow Health Minister Peter Dutton branded Mr Rudd’s failure to gracefully acknowledge a “distinguished Australian’s” contribution to health as “shameful”.
“Professor Mendoza described his appointment as chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health as ‘the most important public service responsibility’ of his life,” Mr Dutton said, “that is the sign of someone who is greatly committed to serving his community and his country and he deserves better from this Prime Minister.”
Mr Dutton had asked the Prime Minister whether Australians could trust him given Professor Mendoza’s assertion that he had made no commitment to mental health and was publicly claiming credit for the Howard Government’s increased investment in mental health services.
The Prime Minister avoided the question and refused in answering a second question to utter the words “John Mendoza”.
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