Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler has defended his decision to stop subsidising extra mental health treatment sessions under the Better Access scheme, saying it was “lazy policy”.

The former government raised the cap on Better Access treatment sessions from 10 to 20 in response to COVID-19, but it was reverted back last year after an independent review questioned the impact on wait times and clinical outcomes.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the number of subsidised sessions should be lifted back to 20 as part of his budget reply speech on Thursday.

However, Mr Butler told ABC radio: “This is a lazy policy, this is a policy that will make wait lists longer for psychological therapy.”