A Dutton Coalition Government will ensure Australians living in the Northern Territory have better access to the health and aged care services they need and deserve.
Today, we are announcing that a Dutton Coalition Government will support health and aged care services in the Northern Territory by:
· Delivering an Urgent Care Clinic in Darwin to take pressure off local hospitals and provide real access to bulk billed urgent healthcare, at a time when it has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor;
· Providing $6.2 million to upgrade headspace Darwin to boost access to free mental health support for young Territorians, as part of our commitment to deliver a world-leading focus on youth mental health; and
· Investing $60 million in residential aged care infrastructure to ensure older Territorians can get the care they need, when they need it.
We understand that Territorians face unique challenges in accessing essential care services, with chronic health workforce shortages in regional Australia left unaddressed under the Albanese Labor Government.
Today’s announcement builds on the Coalition’s commitment to invest $100 million to upgrade regional medical training facilities across Australia and deliver 200 additional medical Commonwealth Supported Places to get more health professionals living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Our funding package will be supported by a new Rural, Regional and Remote Health Strategy, to be developed by the National Rural Health Commissioner in the first six months of a Coalition Government.
Shadow Minster for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the Coalition was focused on addressing the challenges at the source to ensure Territorians have access to the care they need.
“We have committed to a strong focus on regional, rural and remote healthcare, because we understand the urgent need to get more GPs for families into regions like the NT.
“We want to ensure all Australians have timely and affordable access to quality healthcare, no matter where they live.
“Territorians also deserve timely access to quality aged care. That is why we will deliver $60 million to guarantee more aged care beds for older Territorians, and we have been working constructively with stakeholders and the Northern Territory Government on the ongoing barriers to aged care investment in the Top End.”
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said Territorians had been neglected under the Albanese government.
“The federal Labor members in the Northern Territory have used the last three years to put a gaping hole in health and aged care for Territorians. The Coalition will ensure we fix those failings and that Territorians, no matter their age, thrive and enjoy a high quality of life.
CLP Candidate for Solomon, Lisa Bayliss said that the Northern Territory is facing a health crisis under Labor, with GP bulk billing collapsing by 18.1% in Solomon since the Albanese Labor Government was elected.
“We know that this crisis caused by Labor is only putting additional pressure on our hospital EDs, which is why an Urgent Care Clinic for Darwin is so important for our community.
“Speaking to parents across Darwin, I have also heard how concern for their children’s mental health is becoming an escalating issue. By boosting the services available at headspace Darwin, we will ensure an additional 4,000 young Territorians have free access to the support they need.”
Only a Dutton-Coalition Government will ensure regional, rural and remote communities in the Top End have timely and affordable access to quality healthcare.
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