Mr STIRLING - 1998-08-13
The Salvation Army Nursing Home accommodates 46 senior Territorians with an average age of 85. The home has asked the Country Liberal Party government to assist it to install airconditioning. The Country Liberal Party government has refused the Salvation Army’s reasonable request and 46 senior Territorians will face the build-up without airconditioning. Will the Minister explain his callous disregard for these people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Salvation Army Nursing Home, like other non-government providers in the Northern Territory, does an excellent job in providing facilities for our senior Territorians. I am aware of the issue with regard to a request for money from the Territory government to install airconditioning in that particular facility. It is one of the many requests that I have considered for money from Northern Territory Health Services. It should be remembered that, at the moment, that nursing home is in receipt of capital upgrade money from the Commonwealth government. It is primarily the responsibility of the Commonwealth government. I have made representations to the Commonwealth government, not only in regard to that particular nursing home but to its whole rationale and policy to stop capital upgrade funding flowing to nursing homes.
It is not a callous act. The reality is that non-government organisations in the Northern Territory are doing an excellent job for the Northern Territory government. However, they also consume incredibly large amounts of money. All of our non-government organisations and service providers are going through a review process at the moment, related to bids for increased funding for a range of services.
Requests for funding have to be balanced against our requirement to ensure that the money is focused where it is needed, with priorities allocated, benchmarked and ordered.
The request for the airconditioning upgrade at the Salvation Army Nursing Home will receive proper consideration when allocations of additional moneys are considered in due course.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Salvation Army Nursing Home, like other non-government providers in the Northern Territory, does an excellent job in providing facilities for our senior Territorians. I am aware of the issue with regard to a request for money from the Territory government to install airconditioning in that particular facility. It is one of the many requests that I have considered for money from Northern Territory Health Services. It should be remembered that, at the moment, that nursing home is in receipt of capital upgrade money from the Commonwealth government. It is primarily the responsibility of the Commonwealth government. I have made representations to the Commonwealth government, not only in regard to that particular nursing home but to its whole rationale and policy to stop capital upgrade funding flowing to nursing homes.
It is not a callous act. The reality is that non-government organisations in the Northern Territory are doing an excellent job for the Northern Territory government. However, they also consume incredibly large amounts of money. All of our non-government organisations and service providers are going through a review process at the moment, related to bids for increased funding for a range of services.
Requests for funding have to be balanced against our requirement to ensure that the money is focused where it is needed, with priorities allocated, benchmarked and ordered.
The request for the airconditioning upgrade at the Salvation Army Nursing Home will receive proper consideration when allocations of additional moneys are considered in due course.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016