The Wire

As of 1 July, calls to phone counseling service, Lifeline, are now free from all mobile networks, thanks to an $18.2 million Federal government grant. But the change has been met with concern from consumer groups and other counseling services like Kids Helpline. They say it’s unfair that young people have to cough up to access counseling from their mobiles, when adult services are provided for free. Kids Helpline answers more that 240,000 calls a year, and around 70 per cent of those are from mobiles.