Leader of the Opposition Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP Prime Minister Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Malco Dear Prime-Minister |lam writing to request an urgent allocation of funding for LGBTIQ. counselling and trauma services, to assist ‘them with the increase in demand for services that is occurring as @ result of your postal survey on marriage equality. ‘As you would know, mental health experts have long warned of the negative impact of your survey on the mental health of LGBTIQ Australians and their families. Months ago, chair of the National Mental Health Commission Allan Fels warned that a plebiscite could have mental health consequences. Unfortunately, this prediction is proving correct. in August it was reported that national mental-health service Beyondblue has registered a 40 per cent increase in call volume following the announcement of the postal survey. LGBTIQ phone-counselling service QLife has recorded a more than 20 per cent increase in the amount of calls since the survey was announced. Phone counselling services have had to put on additional staff to cope with this influx. Given your determination to proceed with this survey despite the harm it will cause, you have a responsibility to ensure that services around the country are able to cope with the consequences. We cannot leave LGBTIQ Australians and their families on their own through this process, Inote reports last year that Senator Brandis was investigating the possibility of additional funding, when the original plebiscite was proposed. While | am pleased that our parties have been able to agree on legislation that will impose some additional protections throughout this process, nothing in that legislation will prevent people from sprouting homophobic or hurtful speech towards gay, lesbian, transgender and intersex Australians. Nor will it negate the fundamental injustice of putting the value of people's relationships up for a popular survey, This survey remains hurtful, harmful and divisive. | urge you to help minimise the detrimental impact itis likely to have by supporting LGBTIO services immediately. PO Box 6022 Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 + Tel:(02) 6277 4022 * Fax:(02) 6277 8592Labor will continue to stand with the LGBTIQ community as they struggle through what will undoubtedly be a difficult process for many. urge you to confirm a package of supports including additional resources - as soon as possible. Yours sincerely fal Leader of the Opposition 13 September 2017