It has been reported that Tasmania’s Mental Health Officer Mr. John Crawshaw has been appointed Director of New Zealand’s Mental Health. He will be taking up his role as Director at Wellington in November.

Previously, he worked as a Chief Executive Officer of Statewide and Mental Health Services in Tasmania, a role that covers forensic health services, alcohol and drug services, oral health, and cancer screening and control. Mr. John Crawshaw will be substituting David Chaplow, who has recently retired.

It has come to light that Mr. Crawshaw was under controversy because of his decision of imposing 10% cuts to the mental health budget. Following the controversies, he resigned from the post of Chief Executive officer of Tasmania’s Mental Health.

His resignation has caused a stir in mental health sector as its future now seems to be bleak and uncertain. The council's Michelle Swallow said, "I had no idea that that's what he was planning and I'm just a little concerned because we don't know what that might mean for services and the mental health sector in the future".

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed, Matthew Daly as a new secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services.