59209 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Building and Construction

59209 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Building and Construction: What advice, if any, has the Minister asked for regarding self-harm by building and construction sector workers in 2025, and what policy actions, if any, is the Minister taking in response?

Hon Chris Penk: I have not requested specific advice on self-harm by building and construction sector workers in 2025. My focus has been on supporting wellbeing initiatives such as Mates in Construction for targeted suicide prevention activities. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has provided $200,000 in 2025/26 to Mates in Construction, a suicide prevention programme active in Australia since 2008 and New Zealand since 2019 that targets high suicide rates in the construction industry. Funding is to support targeted suicide prevention activities with a focus on regional areas and small and medium-sized enterprises. Alongside this, I support the Government work on suicide prevention through the Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2025-2029. This plan sets out targeted actions to strengthen suicide prevention and improve timely access to mental health and addiction support.