Dr LIM - 1996-09-17
The minister announced recently that telemedicine links are established between the Northern Territory and South Australia. Is it true that the telemedicine link between Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Alice Springs Hospital and Yuendumu has been halted for political reasons?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the short answer to the question is no. No telemedicine program was ever envisaged in any firm way to be put in place between Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Territory Health Services. The ALP candidate for Stuart has run this story locally in the media where he
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can, claiming that, for some politically-motivated reasons, we have stymied the introduction of telemedicine in the Yuendumu community. He should try a better strategy. All he is doing is raising expectations in the community, then letting those expectations down and casting around to blame someone for it.
The facts are that Peter Toyne is the manager of the Tanami Network. He put up a proposal, using a group of consultants ...
Ms Martin: He knows what he is talking about.
Dr Lim: A vested interest.
Mr BURKE: ... from Adelaide ...
Mr Bailey: He didn't get $340 000 given to him.
Mr BURKE: Are you interested in listening to any of this? He put a proposal, at a very low level ...
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: He put a proposal, at a very low level, to Territory Health Services. I will quote in part from the answer that was provided to Mr Peter Toyne on 30 May by Ross Brandon, the regional director in central Australia:
Some of these opportunities are currently being exploited by Territory Health Services in the
department-sponsored telemedicine project operating out of Royal Darwin Hospital. Your proposal would mean
that the department would need to support a second major telemedicine project. As this project will have
impact across all our services, and also involve agreements with other states and the Commonwealth
government, I have referred your proposal to be discussed by the departmental executive.
Unfortunately, this will mean a decision on departmental support of this project will be delayed
while this process is completed.
That response was sent to Peter Toyne on 30 May 1996. It gave no indication of any firm support, but I would say that, conceptionally, I support extensions of telemedicine services where possible. Mr Speaker, I table that letter.
What happened was that the consultants rolled up at Yuendumu community, told the people that they would erect a satellite dish and instructed the clinic staff that they were to be involved in training. Not only did the clinic staff not know what was happening, but they reacted fairly negatively to what was happening because they already had a high workload. Basically, Ross Brandon told the consultants about simple things called courtesies, and the project has gone no further. It has not been stymied politically. It was never in a position to be put in place. All that has happened so far is that Peter Toyne has shown himself to be a person who raises expectations, then disappoints people and blames others for his mistakes.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the short answer to the question is no. No telemedicine program was ever envisaged in any firm way to be put in place between Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Territory Health Services. The ALP candidate for Stuart has run this story locally in the media where he
Page 1588
can, claiming that, for some politically-motivated reasons, we have stymied the introduction of telemedicine in the Yuendumu community. He should try a better strategy. All he is doing is raising expectations in the community, then letting those expectations down and casting around to blame someone for it.
The facts are that Peter Toyne is the manager of the Tanami Network. He put up a proposal, using a group of consultants ...
Ms Martin: He knows what he is talking about.
Dr Lim: A vested interest.
Mr BURKE: ... from Adelaide ...
Mr Bailey: He didn't get $340 000 given to him.
Mr BURKE: Are you interested in listening to any of this? He put a proposal, at a very low level ...
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: He put a proposal, at a very low level, to Territory Health Services. I will quote in part from the answer that was provided to Mr Peter Toyne on 30 May by Ross Brandon, the regional director in central Australia:
Some of these opportunities are currently being exploited by Territory Health Services in the
department-sponsored telemedicine project operating out of Royal Darwin Hospital. Your proposal would mean
that the department would need to support a second major telemedicine project. As this project will have
impact across all our services, and also involve agreements with other states and the Commonwealth
government, I have referred your proposal to be discussed by the departmental executive.
Unfortunately, this will mean a decision on departmental support of this project will be delayed
while this process is completed.
That response was sent to Peter Toyne on 30 May 1996. It gave no indication of any firm support, but I would say that, conceptionally, I support extensions of telemedicine services where possible. Mr Speaker, I table that letter.
What happened was that the consultants rolled up at Yuendumu community, told the people that they would erect a satellite dish and instructed the clinic staff that they were to be involved in training. Not only did the clinic staff not know what was happening, but they reacted fairly negatively to what was happening because they already had a high workload. Basically, Ross Brandon told the consultants about simple things called courtesies, and the project has gone no further. It has not been stymied politically. It was never in a position to be put in place. All that has happened so far is that Peter Toyne has shown himself to be a person who raises expectations, then disappoints people and blames others for his mistakes.
Page 1589
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016