New data shows that Australians experiencing mental health crises are spending increasingly longer periods in emergency departments (ED) while waiting for inpatient beds, with some severe cases forced to remain for more than 23 hours. The findings reflect unprecedented pressure on the nation’s emergency and mental health systems. In a report released on the 25th, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) stated that EDs have been “forced to become the primary entry point” for mental health emergencies, but severe shortages in staffing and beds have pushed waiting times to unsafe levels.

According to the report, nearly 10% of mental health patients now wait more than 23 hours—an increase of around seven hours compared with a decade ago. Between 2016 and 2024, mental health-related ED presentations grew by 11% to more than 310,000, with the sharpest increases seen among First Nations people and those aged over 65. The proportion of high-urgency cases climbed from 63% to nearly 75%. ACEM stressed that mounting pressure is preventing EDs from providing appropriate care.

ACEM president Stephen Gourley warned that without immediate government investment, healthcare quality will worsen. He noted that some patients are left for long periods in brightly lit and noisy emergency areas due to the lack of available beds—conditions he described as “bordering on inhumane.” South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania were identified as the most affected, with only around 40% of patients receiving care within recommended timeframes.

ACEM is calling on state governments to increase the number of mental health beds and expand community support services, to prevent people from being forced into EDs due to a lack of alternative options. The report highlighted positive results from initiatives such as “Safe Haven Cafes” and collaborative mental-health emergency response models implemented in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria, recommending these be rolled out nationwide.

The report comes as federal and state governments engage in tense negotiations over hospital funding. The Productivity Commission recently criticised the national mental health agreement signed three years ago for failing to meet its targets, noting that around 3,000 Australians die by suicide each year, with economic losses exceeding AUD 200 billion.

More than 50,000 public school teachers in Queensland staged a 24-hour statewide strike yesterday (25th) after pay and working-condition negotiations collapsed, marking their second walkout this year. The action forced 109 high schools to postpone or cancel Year 10 and 11 final exams, with some extracurricular activities also affected. Large-scale rallies were held in Brisbane, Townsville, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

The strike stemmed from months of unsuccessful enterprise agreement negotiations between the teachers’ union and the state government. The union previously rejected the government’s proposed 8% pay rise over three years, arguing the increase fails to keep pace with inflation and does not address structural issues such as excessive workloads, teacher shortages and high attrition rates. It has insisted that the government must first approve a 3% pay rise for administrative staff before agreeing to enter arbitration.

The state government countered that it has already offered “the best workable proposal” and has agreed to refer the dispute to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for arbitration, urging the union to cooperate. Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the government has shown goodwill, but the union is refusing to allow the deadlock to be resolved through formal mechanisms.

Union president Cresta Richardson criticised Premier David Crisafulli for refusing to engage in direct negotiations, stressing the strike could have been avoided if the government had accepted the basic arbitration requirement.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said he respects teachers’ right to strike but expressed disappointment over disruption to students, emphasising the government “will not back down,” even if the union launches a third strike before the end of the year. He accused the union of “shifting the goalposts,” making negotiations difficult to progress.

The Department of Education confirmed teachers participating in the strike would not be paid for the day and said affected students and parents have been notified to ensure schools can provide necessary support and minimise the impact on exams and learning.