Mr AH KIT - 1999-11-24
The ambulance service on Groote Eylandt is provided entirely at Gemco’s expense. Over the past year there were over 200 ambulance calls, only 4 of which related to Gemco’s mining business. In Jabiru the ambulance service is 100% funded by the Northern Territory government. There is a government contribution of 60% to ambulance services in Gove. Gemco has written both to your department and to your office seeking to negotiate a more reasonable arrangement, but with no response. Why does the Groote Eylandt community, including both Gemco employees and other residents, have to continue to suffer lower levels of government support for basic services?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the ambulance has been provided at Groote Eylandt by Gemco for some years now. What has changed is that the parent company has only recently entered the scene and is seeking to transfer part of the cost to Territory Health Services.
Ms Martin: And why not?
Mr DUNHAM: Because it’s not a limitless bucket. Consultations between Territory Health Services and Gemco are continuing. They are predicated on trying to obtain the best deal for Territory taxpayers, and I’m totally unashamed about that.
I believe that if a mining company sets up a purpose-built town and it provides services for its employees for the purposes of that town - which would be ‘pristine wilderness’, in the words of the Chief Minister, in the event that the ore body depletes - they should contribute to some of those services. That’s entirely reasonable. The town is there is because the mine is there.
Part of what the employees of Gemco want is some guarantees on health services which we provide. We provide them to the benefit of the company. There’s ample scope for a trade-off here. The Territory has supported Gemco in some very difficult circumstances. We made arrangements when a GP was needed for the mine. We have made arrangements to make sure that we can support that private medical practice. We will continue to do things like that.
Historically, though, Gemco has provided the ambulance services to communities for which we make a contribution. All the non-Gemco ambulance services are provided on a fee-for-service basis. So it is not as if Territory Health Services is washing its hands of this important service. What we are doing is saying that the mining company has an obligation along with us. I believe that we can share that obligation to the best effect for the employees of Gemco and the residents of Groote Eylandt.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the ambulance has been provided at Groote Eylandt by Gemco for some years now. What has changed is that the parent company has only recently entered the scene and is seeking to transfer part of the cost to Territory Health Services.
Ms Martin: And why not?
Mr DUNHAM: Because it’s not a limitless bucket. Consultations between Territory Health Services and Gemco are continuing. They are predicated on trying to obtain the best deal for Territory taxpayers, and I’m totally unashamed about that.
I believe that if a mining company sets up a purpose-built town and it provides services for its employees for the purposes of that town - which would be ‘pristine wilderness’, in the words of the Chief Minister, in the event that the ore body depletes - they should contribute to some of those services. That’s entirely reasonable. The town is there is because the mine is there.
Part of what the employees of Gemco want is some guarantees on health services which we provide. We provide them to the benefit of the company. There’s ample scope for a trade-off here. The Territory has supported Gemco in some very difficult circumstances. We made arrangements when a GP was needed for the mine. We have made arrangements to make sure that we can support that private medical practice. We will continue to do things like that.
Historically, though, Gemco has provided the ambulance services to communities for which we make a contribution. All the non-Gemco ambulance services are provided on a fee-for-service basis. So it is not as if Territory Health Services is washing its hands of this important service. What we are doing is saying that the mining company has an obligation along with us. I believe that we can share that obligation to the best effect for the employees of Gemco and the residents of Groote Eylandt.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016