Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I table a response to a question Senator Siewert asked in question time on Monday, 23 November. I seek leave to incorporate it in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

SENATE QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE

Additional information

DATE ASKED:     Monday 23 November 2009

SENATOR SIEWERT asked the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, during Senate Question Time on Monday 23 November 2009:

Could the Minister tell me how much of the $5.3 million of funding the Commonwealth is contributing to dialysis services in the Northern Territory will be available to new interstate patients from the Western Desert in Western Australia and from the APY Lands in South Australia? Will any of those people have access to any of the $5.3 million that the Commonwealth is making available to the Northern Territory?

SENATOR LUDWIGThe Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

The Australian Government investment of $5.3 million over five years aims to improve access to renal dialysis and related support services for remote communities in the Northern Territory.

The NT Government is responsible for the operation and management of these new facilities. This includes the management of patient flows. Information on how much of the $5.3 million in funding is available to interstate patients’ is an NT Government matter.

The $5.3 million initiative is creating additional dialysis places through a mobile dialysis service pilot in Central Australia, the establishment of drop-in self-care dialysis facilities, one in Darwin and one in Alice Springs, and the establishment of three renal ready rooms to be co-located at Community Health Centres.

Jurisdictions are currently negotiating arrangements for the management of interstate patients.