Mr GUNNER - 2009-04-29
How will Budget 2009-10 improve health services for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This crisis with the swine influenza shows how important it is to have a very effective, well-resourced, and well-trained health service.
About 20 minutes ago, I advised the House that the suspected case in the Territory had been cleared because the test was negative. Just a few minutes ago, I received advice from the department that a new case is now suspected in the Territory. A person presented themselves to a GP with flu-like symptoms, and that person had been travelling. The department is now investigating the person, doing tests, and that person has been put into isolation.
I said before, we need a well-resourced, effective, and well-trained health system in the Territory. We made a promise that we will provide the best possible health service to all Territorians. Since 2001, we have consistently dedicated more resources to health, to provide more health services, more frontline health workers, and more health infrastructure.
In Budget 2009-10, I am very proud to say that the Health and Families budget will exceed $1bn. As a matter of fact, it will be $1.05bn. This is the first billion dollar budget for Health in the Territory. That means we have really doubled the budget since 2001. Hospitals will be increased to a total of $421m …
A member interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: You do not have to accept that. You have already said that you do not want the money; you do not want hospitals or clinics in Palmerston. We are talking about providing services for all Territorians, and the member over there is murmuring, arguing, that he does not like it. Well, that is his problem.
Madam Speaker, $421m will be provided to hospitals. We will be providing $245m to the Royal Darwin Hospital; and $180m to Alice Springs Hospital. That is a 120% increase from 2001. We will be providing $27m for Katherine Hospital - 90% up since 2001; $90m for Gove District Hospital - 71% increase since 2001; and $12m for Tennant Creek Hospital - 94% increase since 2001.
It is not only the hospitals we take care of; there are other areas we have to provide funding for, especially in the dental clinic area. We will provide $1.5m for a dental blitz to bring down the waiting list. There is a significant demand for services in dental clinics around the Territory, and $1.5m will do much to address the dental waiting list. We will provide additional appointments for 4000 Territorians in the coming year, and not only that, there will be an ongoing $750 000 every year to address the issue with dental clinics.
We have committed to provide a good health service to all Territorians, and we have put the money in to ensure that the service is provided.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This crisis with the swine influenza shows how important it is to have a very effective, well-resourced, and well-trained health service.
About 20 minutes ago, I advised the House that the suspected case in the Territory had been cleared because the test was negative. Just a few minutes ago, I received advice from the department that a new case is now suspected in the Territory. A person presented themselves to a GP with flu-like symptoms, and that person had been travelling. The department is now investigating the person, doing tests, and that person has been put into isolation.
I said before, we need a well-resourced, effective, and well-trained health system in the Territory. We made a promise that we will provide the best possible health service to all Territorians. Since 2001, we have consistently dedicated more resources to health, to provide more health services, more frontline health workers, and more health infrastructure.
In Budget 2009-10, I am very proud to say that the Health and Families budget will exceed $1bn. As a matter of fact, it will be $1.05bn. This is the first billion dollar budget for Health in the Territory. That means we have really doubled the budget since 2001. Hospitals will be increased to a total of $421m …
A member interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: You do not have to accept that. You have already said that you do not want the money; you do not want hospitals or clinics in Palmerston. We are talking about providing services for all Territorians, and the member over there is murmuring, arguing, that he does not like it. Well, that is his problem.
Madam Speaker, $421m will be provided to hospitals. We will be providing $245m to the Royal Darwin Hospital; and $180m to Alice Springs Hospital. That is a 120% increase from 2001. We will be providing $27m for Katherine Hospital - 90% up since 2001; $90m for Gove District Hospital - 71% increase since 2001; and $12m for Tennant Creek Hospital - 94% increase since 2001.
It is not only the hospitals we take care of; there are other areas we have to provide funding for, especially in the dental clinic area. We will provide $1.5m for a dental blitz to bring down the waiting list. There is a significant demand for services in dental clinics around the Territory, and $1.5m will do much to address the dental waiting list. We will provide additional appointments for 4000 Territorians in the coming year, and not only that, there will be an ongoing $750 000 every year to address the issue with dental clinics.
We have committed to provide a good health service to all Territorians, and we have put the money in to ensure that the service is provided.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016