home | news l

Indigenous health budget 'a bit short': AMSANT

7 May 2008 - The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance has described the Northern Territory budget for the next financial year as being 'light' on funding for health services in remote areas.

While welcoming funding for services used by new mothers, AMSANT says more funding should have been allocated to an aeromedical service, community controlled health services and measures to combat chronic disease.

AMSANT's executive officer John Patterson says the only way to improve Indigenous health is to invest in community controlled health care.

He says says the Territory Government needs to loosen its belt when it comes to health spending.

"It's a bit light on from our perspective and the health initiatives. We see there $1 million over five years to deliver antenatal care and maternal health program to mothers. We welcome that, but by crikey, it's a bit short."

"Why are we tightening the belt when there's a huge demand for health care services for Territorians?

"If we want to get on top of this and reduce the waiting list and the demand on hospitals, then we've got to invest. If we want to reduce the burden in the years to come then we've got to invest in preventative measures and health care services."

Mr Patterson says poor funding for the aeromedical service is leading to long delays for sick people in remote communities.

"New planes, more doctors and nurses are desperately needed, but the NT budget has just ignored that.

"Aboriginal clients are suffering long delays getting to and from hospitals. This can have tragic repercussions."

Green groups unhappy with environment spending

The budget has also come under fire from two environmental groups.

The coordinator of the Northern Territory Environment Centre Charles Roche says he was hoping the Government would allocate $50 million to climate change initiatives, but it has only put $11 million into it.

He says overall spending on environmental projects has been cut.

"The amount allocated to the environment section is dropping each year. The total spend in the environment budget has fallen and when you take into account inflation, you've got a massive cut in the environment budget."

The World Wide Fund's Dr Stuart Blanch says land clearing in the Daly region may cancel out the greenhouse gas reductions achieved by the Government's $11 million funding to tackle climate change.

He says he was hoping to see funding for new national parks and renewable energy projects in the Northern Territory.

"We want to see in years ahead major investments in renewable energy such as a major solar farm for Darwin, or major investment in tidal or wave power off the Darwin coastline.

"We need a land clearing policy that reduces our emissions significantly, otherwise all these worthy investments may be just lost."

Environment Minister Len Kiely has rejected the claims, saying it is the first time the Government has put money directly into addressing climate change.

"This budget delivers on our commitment to the environment. We have seen an increase of $3 million in our environmental budget."

Tourism Top End happy, but more needed

Tourism Top End has given the Northern Territory budget the thumbs up, but will lobby for more money to market regional destinations next year.

The group's general manager Tony Clementson has welcomed a slight increase in the overall tourism budget, including $4.5 million for upgrades at Litchfield National Park.

But he says even more is needed to promote the Daly region and Katherine.

"We haven't seen any growth in regional tourism marketing dollars for some time. We weren't lucky in this budget, so we'll be lobbying hard that maybe next year we're a consideration."

He has welcomed a $600,000 global marketing campaign linked to the release of Baz Luhrmann's movie Australia.

"This Baz Luhrmann film is going to be global, so no doubt where the movie goes, hopefully the Territory will go with it."

Union sceptical on Palmerston school promises

The Education Union says it is not holding its breath while waiting for the construction of two new schools in Palmerston announced as part of yesterday's budget.

A record $719 million was earmarked for education, training and employment by the Territory Government, including $10 million for starting works on a primary and middle school at Roseberry in Palmerston.

But the Education Union's Nadine Williams says work is already behind schedule on a number of other schools in the area.

"It has taken more than 12 months for ... another extension for the Palmerston Senior School buildings to be finished, causing great havoc and difficulty for people deliver any schooling for year sevens."

Source: ABC

related links:
The health and welfare of Australias Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Further information: health issues page - includes news index and external links

|| click to go to the top of this page