Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has labelled the coalition 'crazy' for funding its mental health policy by scrapping Labor health reforms in general practice and record keeping. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced the $1.5 billion policy on Wednesday, drawing praise from high-profile government critics including Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry, and John Mendoza, who quit the National Advisory Council on Mental Health in June.

Ms Roxon said the coalition's policy was undermined by the fact it was funded by cutting Labor's health reforms, such as GP super clinics and e-health reforms. It just seems to me to be a crazy way to fund what might otherwise be a worthy proposal,' she told Sky News on Thursday. Ms Roxon said she had no issue with the view that more needed to be done on mental health.

The government had tried to explain the importance of building a connected, strong primary health care system. 'To make sure that mental health patients and others don't get shunted around the health system or fall between the gaps,' Ms Roxon said. Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said the coalition's mental health policy had received 'universal' praise.

'It is only Nicola Roxon and Ms (Prime Minister Julia) Gillard who are saying that we've got the policy on mental health wrong,' he told Sky News. Health experts had told the coalition it was 'spot on' with its announcement. 'We cannot understand why Nicola Roxon still has her head in the sand.'