"You're condemning young people like me to a life of climate disasters — of course we have poor mental health issues!" cried protester Alexa Stuart, a 21-year-old from climate action group Rising Tide mid-way through Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's press conference today.
"When will you listen to young people?"
Albanese was announcing a, including $500 million for Youth Specialist Care Centres. The funding announcement follows Opposition leader Peter Dutton's own pledge of $400 million towards mental health .
"Mr Albanese, you say you care about young people — and yet since getting elected your government has approved 33 new coal and gas projects!" Stuart yelled as she was hauled away by security.
The Australia Institute's Coal Mine Tracker says the federal government has approved 10 new coal mines since it was elected in May 2022 and there are another 22 proposals for new or expanded coal mines awaiting approval.
Young voices louder this election
This is the first federal election where gen Z and millennials will outnumber the number of baby boomers, and politicians have been .
Alexa Stuart (arm raised) was hauled out after heckling Anthony Albanese over poor youth mental health as a result of climate change. Source: Supplied
But climate anxiety still remains a major concern. Two-thirds of young Australians believe climate concerns are having a negative impact on youth mental health, while over three in four young people are concerned about climate change, according to a survey conducted by YouGov sampling 1,000 Australian citizens aged 16-25 in 2023.
One-in-five Australians have a year-long mental disorder, with anxiety being the most common, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023) with young people, particularly young females, experiencing higher rates.
Albanese said during his press conference that the funding boost would help Australians access mental health support.
"I want everyone, and especially young people, to be able to access the mental health care they need," Albanese said.
Labor's commitment includes $225 million toward 21 new Mental Health Centres and upgrades toward 10 centres across the country, many in regional centres, as well as the $500 million for Youth Specialist Care Centres, $200 million to expand Headspace services and $90 million to train 1,200 new mental health professionals.
A shaky future
There has been an increase in extreme and longer fire seasons across parts of Australia since the 1950s — and the intensity of heavy rainfall events has increased by 10 per cent or more since 1979, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
About 175 million children around the world are impacted by climate-related disasters, according to a 2025 report published in the Australian Journal of General Practice that analysed the intersection between children's mental health and climate change.
Professor Patrick McGorry, a youth mental health psychiatrist, said in the same press conference today that "megatrends", like climate change, the housing crisis and student debt are all drivers for poor mental health and "pessimism" among young people.
The incident occured during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's $1billion announcement toward mental health services. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"So we need to identify what those problems are, and then turn the direction around to make it a healthier, stronger, cohesive society."
How the major parties plan to tackle climate change
Labor has pledged $1 billion toward green iron manufacturing and a further $2.4 billion for cheaper solar panels, while if elected, the Coalition will move ahead with a $331 billion plan to build seven nuclear power plants.
If elected, the Greens will ban fossil fuels, including all new coal and gas projects, will ban logging in native forests, and will aim to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 or earlier — with a plan for all electricity to be sourced from renewables.
Today was not the first time Rising Tide protesters have made a statement at a press conference during the election campaign, with the same group interrupting an event of Dutton's.
"I think it's hypocritical that our government on one hand claims to care about young people — to care about mental health — and yet on the other — clearly do not," Stuart said to media after being removed from the event.
"They are continuing to fuel the climate crisis and make it worse for young people like me.
"I feel so angry and upset."
