Suicide prevention goals need action: govt

The government says it's all well and good to put in place aspirational goals on preventing suicides but what matters is funding and action.

Treasurer Scott Morrison is warning Labor to be careful raising expectations in areas like suicide prevention, with the opposition revealing it wants to slash the rate by half.

Mr Morrison has pointed to former prime minister Bob Hawke's failed goal of having no child living in poverty to warn that action and funding are more effective than aspirational aims.

"I think these are great aspirational goals but what matters is what you do," he told 5AA radio in Adelaide on Friday, adding halving suicides is a goal every Australian would want to see.

Labor says it would use recommendations from the National Mental Health Commission as a guide in creating a mental health package, including 12 suicide prevention initiatives, a suicide prevention framework and an indigenous mental health plan.

It says it will detail how it would implement the policy within 100 days of being elected into government and fund it through a reallocation of funds.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.