Mr BALDWIN - 1996-02-22
What plans exist to increase significantly the number of health clinics, particularly for Territorians living in rural and remote areas?
Page 1194
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I answer this question with absolute pleasure. It is in direct contrast to the 13 years of abysmal neglect by federal Labor governments with representatives like Warren Snowdon and Bob Collins. Fortunately for Territorians, and particularly Aboriginal Territorians, they will soon be represented by Nick Dondas, Grant Tambling and John Howard. John Howard is a man of his word - not a man who speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
Members interjecting.
Mr Finch: You did not have an answer yesterday to the $20m- worth of cuts to Medicare, did you?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much yelling from the opposition benches. I have heard enough of it. I would appreciate being able to hear the minister's response to the question in reasonable silence.
Mr FINCH: The Leader of the Opposition interjects, but he is telling jokes. Apart from employment and other areas, $20m- worth of Medicare benefits have been ripped off Aboriginal Territorians. That is an area that I thought would have been considered critical in the minds and hearts of members opposite. I would have thought it might have mattered even to Warren Snowdon also. The issue was raised with him 5 months ago and there has been absolutely no answer. Carmen Lawrence is not to be found anywhere. She is under the bed. $20m- worth of access to health services has been lost - services that the member for Wanguri takes for granted for himself and his constituents. They have a local doctor around the corner, a pharmacist etc. Aboriginal Territorians are denied fair and just access to the nation's Medicare system.
Let me tell honourable members what this CLP government is doing for Aboriginal health. It is certainly improving a great deal, albeit against the odds. The incidence of TB has been reduced from 44 to 15 cases. Average birth weights are up 500 g. There have been improvements in the ratios of underweight babies. These are incredible achievements. How did that all come about?
Mr Ede: From the federal money that went into it.
Mr FINCH: What federal money? I just told you about the $20m that the Commonwealth has pulled out. You may think it is a joke. You may pat Warren Snowdon on the back for this best efforts, but let me tell you ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: None of these clinics is being built in the electorate of the member for Wanguri, I can assure him of that. They are in electorates that other honourable members may
Page 1195
be interested in. Fortunately, this year the Territory Department of Health Services will be able to build even more health centres than had been planned originally. We had intended to build about half-a-dozen. Now, as a matter of urgency, construction will be commenced on 14 across the Northern Territory. This is a very impressive list, particularly when it is contrasted with the neglect of Labor.
Mr Bailey: It has been neglected and you guys have been in power here for 20 years.
Mr FINCH: It is the neglect of Labor. You know where the responsibilities lie.
Mr Bailey: Yes, health is a territory/state responsibility.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: These clinics are at Palumpa, Kings Canyon, Mt Allan, Alcoota, Urapunga, Ti Tree 6-Mile, Ti Tree Station, Manyallaluk, Napperby, Wilora, Yarralin, Binjari, and Aminbidji, and the clinic at Minjilang is being extended. That is an impressive list. They are good facilities, put there using a combination of Commonwealth and Territory moneys. They are operated by Territory moneys, and that is where the quality of service arises. They provide a broad range of services to Aboriginal people and they are improving the health of Aboriginal people.
Facilities alone will not do that. The people involved are very important in the exercise. What is also important is that Aboriginal communities themselves take up some of these challenges and get a sense of ownership about their operations. They should not kick nurses off communities, threatening them and such like. These are the messages that have to be delivered to them through members opposite. It is no good blaming the government all the time. What you have to do ...
Mr Bailey: After years of saying you have no waiting lists, your own candidate comes out and says that you have huge waiting lists. Do you intend to talk about the waiting lists in hospitals?
Mr FINCH: Why don't you ask me a question about waiting lists in hospitals? It would be a good one.
In summary, I thank a number of members for their cooperation, particularly those on this side of the House who have been keen to see the expansion of health services in their own electorates. I have been to visit a few, to see the circumstances that exist and where the communities want to go. I applaud them for their efforts. They are excellent. We are building another $3m-worth of health centres, many of which will be completed by the end of this financial year. This highlights CLP policies, practices and actions versus Labor Party apathy.
Page 1196
Page 1194
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I answer this question with absolute pleasure. It is in direct contrast to the 13 years of abysmal neglect by federal Labor governments with representatives like Warren Snowdon and Bob Collins. Fortunately for Territorians, and particularly Aboriginal Territorians, they will soon be represented by Nick Dondas, Grant Tambling and John Howard. John Howard is a man of his word - not a man who speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
Members interjecting.
Mr Finch: You did not have an answer yesterday to the $20m- worth of cuts to Medicare, did you?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much yelling from the opposition benches. I have heard enough of it. I would appreciate being able to hear the minister's response to the question in reasonable silence.
Mr FINCH: The Leader of the Opposition interjects, but he is telling jokes. Apart from employment and other areas, $20m- worth of Medicare benefits have been ripped off Aboriginal Territorians. That is an area that I thought would have been considered critical in the minds and hearts of members opposite. I would have thought it might have mattered even to Warren Snowdon also. The issue was raised with him 5 months ago and there has been absolutely no answer. Carmen Lawrence is not to be found anywhere. She is under the bed. $20m- worth of access to health services has been lost - services that the member for Wanguri takes for granted for himself and his constituents. They have a local doctor around the corner, a pharmacist etc. Aboriginal Territorians are denied fair and just access to the nation's Medicare system.
Let me tell honourable members what this CLP government is doing for Aboriginal health. It is certainly improving a great deal, albeit against the odds. The incidence of TB has been reduced from 44 to 15 cases. Average birth weights are up 500 g. There have been improvements in the ratios of underweight babies. These are incredible achievements. How did that all come about?
Mr Ede: From the federal money that went into it.
Mr FINCH: What federal money? I just told you about the $20m that the Commonwealth has pulled out. You may think it is a joke. You may pat Warren Snowdon on the back for this best efforts, but let me tell you ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: None of these clinics is being built in the electorate of the member for Wanguri, I can assure him of that. They are in electorates that other honourable members may
Page 1195
be interested in. Fortunately, this year the Territory Department of Health Services will be able to build even more health centres than had been planned originally. We had intended to build about half-a-dozen. Now, as a matter of urgency, construction will be commenced on 14 across the Northern Territory. This is a very impressive list, particularly when it is contrasted with the neglect of Labor.
Mr Bailey: It has been neglected and you guys have been in power here for 20 years.
Mr FINCH: It is the neglect of Labor. You know where the responsibilities lie.
Mr Bailey: Yes, health is a territory/state responsibility.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: These clinics are at Palumpa, Kings Canyon, Mt Allan, Alcoota, Urapunga, Ti Tree 6-Mile, Ti Tree Station, Manyallaluk, Napperby, Wilora, Yarralin, Binjari, and Aminbidji, and the clinic at Minjilang is being extended. That is an impressive list. They are good facilities, put there using a combination of Commonwealth and Territory moneys. They are operated by Territory moneys, and that is where the quality of service arises. They provide a broad range of services to Aboriginal people and they are improving the health of Aboriginal people.
Facilities alone will not do that. The people involved are very important in the exercise. What is also important is that Aboriginal communities themselves take up some of these challenges and get a sense of ownership about their operations. They should not kick nurses off communities, threatening them and such like. These are the messages that have to be delivered to them through members opposite. It is no good blaming the government all the time. What you have to do ...
Mr Bailey: After years of saying you have no waiting lists, your own candidate comes out and says that you have huge waiting lists. Do you intend to talk about the waiting lists in hospitals?
Mr FINCH: Why don't you ask me a question about waiting lists in hospitals? It would be a good one.
In summary, I thank a number of members for their cooperation, particularly those on this side of the House who have been keen to see the expansion of health services in their own electorates. I have been to visit a few, to see the circumstances that exist and where the communities want to go. I applaud them for their efforts. They are excellent. We are building another $3m-worth of health centres, many of which will be completed by the end of this financial year. This highlights CLP policies, practices and actions versus Labor Party apathy.
Page 1196
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016