Ms CARNEY - 2002-05-16
Minister, in March this year you claimed in this House that it was unsatisfactory for women in the Darwin area to be denied access to breast screening services from November 2001 to March of this year. Your failure to do your job has now resulted in the women of Central Australia being denied breast screening services for 14 out of 17 weeks. The Alice Springs breast screening service remains closed today. Minister, why can’t you provide essential medical services to Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again, health on the agenda. Isn’t that a good thing?
Members interjecting.
Mrs AAGAARD: That is a very interesting question. Who is the shadow health spokesperson? Who is it? Has it actually changed?
Yes, breast screening is something which is very, very important. This is a very serious matter. I am the first to say that there have been a series of issues in relation to attracting specialist staff to the Northern Territory. The previous government left us with a pitiful situation. They did not leave us with any people to back up people in any areas. If there are people missing in areas it is because the previous government left us with no planned way of dealing with putting specialists in. We are working very carefully to attract specialists to the Northern Territory. We are not just doing what the previous government did, which was an ad hoc, band aid approach to everything that they dealt with in this portfolio.
Breast screening is a very important area and we will be making sure that it is a priority area for this portfolio.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again, health on the agenda. Isn’t that a good thing?
Members interjecting.
Mrs AAGAARD: That is a very interesting question. Who is the shadow health spokesperson? Who is it? Has it actually changed?
Yes, breast screening is something which is very, very important. This is a very serious matter. I am the first to say that there have been a series of issues in relation to attracting specialist staff to the Northern Territory. The previous government left us with a pitiful situation. They did not leave us with any people to back up people in any areas. If there are people missing in areas it is because the previous government left us with no planned way of dealing with putting specialists in. We are working very carefully to attract specialists to the Northern Territory. We are not just doing what the previous government did, which was an ad hoc, band aid approach to everything that they dealt with in this portfolio.
Breast screening is a very important area and we will be making sure that it is a priority area for this portfolio.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016