Mrs HICKEY - 1994-08-31
Dr Carmen Lawrence, the federal Minister for Human Services and Health, has said that, in the first year of the Medicare agreement, the Commonwealth government increased funds for health care in the Territory by a net $15m. Commonwealth government analysis shows that, in the same year, the Territory government withdrew $15m from its allocations for health care. Can the minister explain to Territorians why his government reduced funds by this amount, thereby denying Territorians greater health care? Does the minister intend to continue withdrawing Territory funds every time that the Commonwealth increases its funding to the Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Barkly must be providing advice to the federal minister now because this indicates clearly that Dr Carmen Lawrence is as misinformed about Territory matters as the member for Barkly is. In relation to reductions in health funding, I have provided to members in this House details of increases to the health budget. As I recall, last year it was $10m more than in the previous year. This financial year, there has been another substantial increase - in the order of $10m - to the Department of Health and Community Services.
Mrs Hickey: Whose money was it? Was it Territory money or Commonwealth money?
Mr REED: I do not know exactly how I can put this message across to the member for Barkly. She says that she has a fire in her belly and that she intends to take matters seriously. However, I doubt that the fire is still alight. In fact, I would like to offer the member ...
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr REED: I will give the member a box of Jiffy lighters so that she can relight the fire because she has to get the facts together. They burn for 15 minutes, and I prescribe that the member use one every 15 minutes during Question Time. She might then be able to keep the fire alive. If she has the fire ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
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Members interjecting.
Mr REED: I will table a document for the benefit of the member for Barkly ...
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: ... because, if she is providing that kind of advice to the federal minister, she is doing the Territory a disservice.
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr REED: It ill behoves her even to ask the question that she has asked in this House because she knows the facts. During the June sittings, I explained in great detail - and she is not listening now ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr REED: The problem is that she has been provided with the information, but she does not pay attention and therefore it does not sink in. That is the fundamental problem facing the opposition.
Information is available in the budget papers as to the extent of funding to the Department of Health and Community Services in the Northern Territory. There has been an increase this financial year. There was an increase last financial year. From recollection, the department has received an increase in funding every financial year since 1988. How the member for Barkly can portray that as a reduction in health funding is beyond me. I have tried to explain it to her, but she does not have the capacity to understand it. She does not have the capacity to read the budget documents and relate to the factual way in which they are presented. Her only capacity is to misrepresent the facts. I am sorry, but I simply cannot help her beyond that.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Barkly must be providing advice to the federal minister now because this indicates clearly that Dr Carmen Lawrence is as misinformed about Territory matters as the member for Barkly is. In relation to reductions in health funding, I have provided to members in this House details of increases to the health budget. As I recall, last year it was $10m more than in the previous year. This financial year, there has been another substantial increase - in the order of $10m - to the Department of Health and Community Services.
Mrs Hickey: Whose money was it? Was it Territory money or Commonwealth money?
Mr REED: I do not know exactly how I can put this message across to the member for Barkly. She says that she has a fire in her belly and that she intends to take matters seriously. However, I doubt that the fire is still alight. In fact, I would like to offer the member ...
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr REED: I will give the member a box of Jiffy lighters so that she can relight the fire because she has to get the facts together. They burn for 15 minutes, and I prescribe that the member use one every 15 minutes during Question Time. She might then be able to keep the fire alive. If she has the fire ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Page 114
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: I will table a document for the benefit of the member for Barkly ...
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: ... because, if she is providing that kind of advice to the federal minister, she is doing the Territory a disservice.
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr REED: It ill behoves her even to ask the question that she has asked in this House because she knows the facts. During the June sittings, I explained in great detail - and she is not listening now ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr REED: The problem is that she has been provided with the information, but she does not pay attention and therefore it does not sink in. That is the fundamental problem facing the opposition.
Information is available in the budget papers as to the extent of funding to the Department of Health and Community Services in the Northern Territory. There has been an increase this financial year. There was an increase last financial year. From recollection, the department has received an increase in funding every financial year since 1988. How the member for Barkly can portray that as a reduction in health funding is beyond me. I have tried to explain it to her, but she does not have the capacity to understand it. She does not have the capacity to read the budget documents and relate to the factual way in which they are presented. Her only capacity is to misrepresent the facts. I am sorry, but I simply cannot help her beyond that.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016