Mr REED - 2001-11-29
The minister recently gave Danila Dilba Medical Service land adjacent to the Palmerston Health Precinct. Can the minister advise the market value placed on this land, and the price paid by Danila Dilba? The minister might also confirm that the previous government was assisting Danila Dilba in its land needs, but made it quite clear that Danila Dilba would have to pay for any suitable block of land.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. Yes, it is true we gave land to Danila Dilba Medical Service near the health precinct in Palmerston. Yes, it is also true that Danila Dilba had applied to the previous government last year to acquire some land in the health precinct in Palmerston. It is also true that the previous government refused to give them land. For the member for Katherine to say today that they asked Danila Dilba to pay, I think is a very poor excuse.
It is well known that Danila Dilba is an Aboriginal medical service. It is not a profit-making organisation. They do not have enough money. They came to the previous minister cap in hand and they asked for assistance. I have to say that the previous minister of health, the member for Drysdale, he was very kind and provided a lot of support for Danila Dilba. At that time I was working at Danila Dilba and I had meetings with the previous minister for health. I was very pleased to see his compassion when he dealt with Danila Dilba, and I was very pleased to see that he was discussing with Danila Dilba, at that time, the provision of land in the health precinct. Unfortunately, it did not happen.
This time, Danila Dilba again requested land. We know what work Danila Dilba does out there in the Aboriginal community. I know the high regard that the Aboriginal community holds Danila Dilba, and I think it was only fair that Danila Dilba was offered land near the Palmerston Health Precinct for the Aboriginal community - but not only for the Aboriginal community. Many times when I was working there, and now, Danila Dilba will provide services to any member of the community that walk in with a Medicare card in hand and seek medical assistance.
I believe that Danila Dilba Medical Service is going to enhance the Palmerston Health Precinct and it will provide service to the Palmerston community, Darwin community, the general community and the Aboriginal community. I do not think it is fair for us in government, or any government, to ask this kind of organisation to pay for land that they are going to use for the benefit of the community.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to remind ministers we have only had eight question to date. Could we perhaps have some quicker answers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. Yes, it is true we gave land to Danila Dilba Medical Service near the health precinct in Palmerston. Yes, it is also true that Danila Dilba had applied to the previous government last year to acquire some land in the health precinct in Palmerston. It is also true that the previous government refused to give them land. For the member for Katherine to say today that they asked Danila Dilba to pay, I think is a very poor excuse.
It is well known that Danila Dilba is an Aboriginal medical service. It is not a profit-making organisation. They do not have enough money. They came to the previous minister cap in hand and they asked for assistance. I have to say that the previous minister of health, the member for Drysdale, he was very kind and provided a lot of support for Danila Dilba. At that time I was working at Danila Dilba and I had meetings with the previous minister for health. I was very pleased to see his compassion when he dealt with Danila Dilba, and I was very pleased to see that he was discussing with Danila Dilba, at that time, the provision of land in the health precinct. Unfortunately, it did not happen.
This time, Danila Dilba again requested land. We know what work Danila Dilba does out there in the Aboriginal community. I know the high regard that the Aboriginal community holds Danila Dilba, and I think it was only fair that Danila Dilba was offered land near the Palmerston Health Precinct for the Aboriginal community - but not only for the Aboriginal community. Many times when I was working there, and now, Danila Dilba will provide services to any member of the community that walk in with a Medicare card in hand and seek medical assistance.
I believe that Danila Dilba Medical Service is going to enhance the Palmerston Health Precinct and it will provide service to the Palmerston community, Darwin community, the general community and the Aboriginal community. I do not think it is fair for us in government, or any government, to ask this kind of organisation to pay for land that they are going to use for the benefit of the community.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to remind ministers we have only had eight question to date. Could we perhaps have some quicker answers?
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016