Can Victorians trust Daniel Andrews with their private mental health records?

THE mental health and medical history of every day Victorians is no longer private and confidential under Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government, says Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kealy.

Victorians trust our amazing mental health workers and health providers with extremely sensitive personal information in order to provide the best possible care and a safe, high quality health system in our state.

By releasing private and confidential mental health information and medical records to the public, Daniel Andrews and his Labor Government have completely undermined the values of safety and data integrity that health workers closely abide by and respect, and Victorians trust.

Several of the documents released by the Andrews Labor Government contained sensitive psychiatric information that didn’t belong on a website for anyone to access.

The Government holds an enormous volume of sensitive health and medical information that Victorians want to keep private and out of public scrutiny, including mental health records, hospital admission data and drug treatment records including clients of the North Richmond Injecting Room and rehabilitation information.

It is appalling that in Parliament yesterday the Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy defended this unprecedented release of private and confidential health information rather than condemn these actions as a gross breach of patient and health worker trust and expectation.

The actions of the Andrews Labor Government demonstrates complete disregard for the horrific potential consequences of releasing private health information on individual’s mental health, job security, family relationships and personal safety.

Daniel Andrews has demonstrated he is willing to trade private health records for a headline and to support his mantra that he is ‘getting things done’, but the cost is far too high when the safety, health and well-being of Victorians is being put at risk.

Daniel Andrews is not fit to run Victoria and must resign immediately.

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