Sid Sidebottom (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

They are very happy now! We are already working on this new relationship. That upgrade is to ensure safe patient transfers. Up to $20,000 will be used to purchase appropriate patient transport and lifting equipment at Wynyard airport and up to $770,000 to implement new telehealth initiatives to reduce the necessity for patients to travel to receive health care. That is a terrific package; $10 million was promised in the election period, went through consultation, was committed and is now underway.

Another related area is that of aged care. Something that we must all be aware of is the growing need for this in our community. It should be at the forefront of our thinking and planning. In this respect, only a couple of weeks ago I was happy to announce the start of a project set to become a national aged-care leader, which has been recognised by the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot. The minister has offered funding for an innovative project being developed by north-west coast aged-care providers, in particular, for not-for-profit community aged care.

A few weeks ago, a group of aged-care providers from the region met to further discuss a study into ways to strengthen aged-care services and cooperation between providers in the region. The group had grown since the meeting with the minister last year and the series of gatherings that followed. I have been keen to support the group and assist them wherever I can and was only too happy to seek funding for a study of potential models. The challenges we have in the Cradle Coast region are no doubt shared by others throughout Australia, particularly regional Australia. The Rudd government is committed to ensuring high-quality, sustainable aged-care services.

I would like to acknowledge the work of Malcolm Johnstone from Eliza Purton in Ulverstone and Wendy Tadman from Yaraandoo at Somerset. As representatives of the group, they have been crucial to getting funding for the project. I was very pleased to announce that the minister was giving them funding to scope this project. Hopefully, I can share the results later on with members in this place and hopefully it will be applicable to other regional areas throughout Australia—particularly in the area of not-for-profit, community aged care. We cannot deny that this is a very difficult challenge and it is something that all members here are going to have to deal with.

Some significant funds associated with these appropriations will also flow to local government in my region as part of the federal government’s injection of millions of dollars into regional and local infrastructure across Australia. Indeed, the earlier $300 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program jointly announced by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, has already seen a flow-on into my electorate. The Burnie City Council has received funding of $235,000 to go towards the Les Clark bowls complex. The Circular Head Council has had $277,000 committed to shared walkways in that part of the electorate. The Devonport City Council has received $183,000, which is allocated to a skate park. The Waratah-Wynyard Council has had $339,000 committed to walkways. I note that King Island has been given $100,000, Latrobe has been given $196,000 and the Central Coast Council has been given $391,000 for projects under this scheme.

The money comes on top of the recent announcement of $3.65 million going to the north-west councils in my electorate as part of the second instalment of the federal government’s $1.9 billion financial assistance grants, which we share with other members in this House. Time does not allow but there are many other projects that I could comment on in relation to the government’s investment in infrastructure in my electorate. These are great stimulants and we look forward to sharing their benefits.

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