September 8, 2026 • 9 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And joining me in the studio this morning, it is
the CEO of COTA here in the Northern Territory, Sue Shearer.
Good morning to you, Sue.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good morning, Katie. We're having a little gossip beforehand. Always.
We've been around too long, haven't we?
Speaker 1 (00:12):
We know too many people. We know everyone. Sue, I
tell you what, you know, there's never any shortage of
things going on in your sector and impacting people. And
at the moment, and we spoke pretty extensively about this
earlier in the week, Territory seniors are being urged to
sign this petition opposing these proposed changes to the private
(00:33):
health insurance rebate. Tell me what it means from your perspective.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, 89% of seniors don't want this rebate. And I
think the federal government also forgets Australia-wide, one in four
seniors live in poverty. Now you expect them to absorb
this particular rebate money, which equates to about $ 250. They
used to get the private health insurance rebate. I think
(00:58):
they just, they're making these decisions without any consultation. I mean,
I watched an interview with Sam Ray and really, it
was just rather ludicrous, the actual interview. And I just
wonder who's advising them. We do our research and Australia-wide
as well. We work with CODA Australia, obviously a lot,
(01:19):
as do all the other CODAs. And it's 82% of
seniors don't want this and they will probably stop their
private health insurance. Supposedly this money though that they're saving,
supposedly Katie, will go towards aged care. Now you prove
that to us. I'm sure it's just going to go
into general revenue.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Well and the concern here as well Sue is that
it's not only going to add another financial burden for
older Australians but there's questions about, you know, then if
If they opt to not have private health, what's that
going to mean? When you do need to present to
the hospital, it is eventually it's going to be a
greater burden, you would think, on the federal government in
(01:57):
terms of having to then ensure that there is space
for somebody at the public hospital.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It just amazes me how they don't think things through.
As you just said, we're already in lots of code yellow.
There's already a lot of people in hospital. hospital, which
should be in an aged care facility, which again is
a federal government's responsibility. You work out 80 to 100
people in our hospital system at $ 2, 000 a day. If
(02:23):
I was a Northern Territory government, I'd be sending the
federal government a bill. We'd soon have a new hospital,
wouldn't we?
Speaker 1 (02:31):
And this is the thing, it's really, it is quite infuriating.
And at the heart of it, my concern is for
those seniors. You know, like I feel really sad then
for somebody who's forced to stay in a hospital bed
because there's not another place for them.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh, that's right. The federal government wants people to age
at home. Well, excuse me, federal government, there's a housing
crisis as well. So it just continues to go around
in circles and now they're making it even harder for people.
to keep their private health insurance so they're not a
burden on the hospital system, but a lot of them
won't be able to. They won't be able to absorb
(03:06):
that cost because it'll go up. Besides that, the private
health insurance, they'll put it up again, as we know.
So it's just, I don't know, really. I've never been
so disappointed in decisions that a federal government is making,
and I hear that from all senior Territorians and Australia-wide
as well, that they are so disappointed. They're sick of
(03:26):
the games. that this government is playing with their lives.
And that's what it is. They're playing with their lives.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So do you feel that senior Territorians at the moment
are quite dismayed with the Albanese government?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Very dismayed. I keep that all the time. They just
don't have any trust whatsoever. So Really, Mr Albanese and
all your ministers, really, I think you're going to be
in for a shellacking. Really?
Speaker 1 (03:52):
And it's sad to hear because, you know, like at
the end of the day, the Labor government, you know,
they pride themselves or they have in the past on...
Making sure that, you know, that they look after older Australians. Yeah,
that's exactly right. Look after those that have worked their lives.
And I think it's a real issue. You know, people
sort of talk about the fact that there's the rise
(04:14):
of One Nation or the rise of other political parties. Well,
you've got to, like if our current government are not
looking after, you know, people who've worked their whole lives,
what do you expect?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Well, exactly. There's no trust there. There's probably no trust
in any of the political parties, maybe, except... for Pauline,
who says it like it is, I guess. She mightn't
agree with it, but, you know, it doesn't probably tell
a lot of furfews. I haven't really investigated it a lot,
but it's just they're really frightened of ageing and they're
(04:44):
really frightened of where they're going to go. They don't
want to end up in hospital. And also, you know,
they'll try and stay home as long as they can,
but then again, with that silly algorithms and the support
at home package as well, that's not working. They've just
made really the most ludicrous decisions and harmful decisions that
affect seniors throughout Australia. I just can't believe where they're
(05:07):
getting their advice from, Katie. The advisors need to be sacked. Really,
I just can't believe it.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Sue, I want to ask you, because obviously we're talking
about these changes to private health, but The other part
of this puzzle, and you and I have spoken about
this on numerous occasions, is the fact that we have
got the funding that's been announced. We've got the provider
that's been announced for those 80-odd Territorians that are currently
in hospital beds across the Northern Territory because there isn't
(05:36):
an aged care facility yet for them. Now, we actually
sought an interview with Sam Ray, the Federal Aged Care Minister,
and they were offered the opportunity to come on the
phone and He declined, provided this statement saying, we know
this project is important to many older people and their
families in the Northern Territory and we'll have more to
(05:57):
say soon. Going on to say, while projects this complex
can't come to life overnight... We're working closely and cooperatively
with all involved to move as quickly as possible. And
went on to say the Albanese government's working closely with
AusCare and the Northern Territory Government to progress this project
as a matter of priority. And the work currently being
(06:19):
done is essential to ensure we help establish a viable,
high-quality development that can meet Darwin's long-term aged care needs.
And this is a large and complex development in a
challenging construction environment. And the project continues to progress through
the usual channels, as well as we work through the
(06:39):
application and the planning phase. The proposed use of the
Northern Territory government-owned land near Palmerston Regional Hospital also requires
careful coordination across land design, infrastructure, approvals, costings and delivery arrangements. Now,
I've got a few observations there, but I might let
you go first, Sue. What do you make of those
(07:01):
comments from the Federal Aged Care Minister?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Am I allowed to swear?
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Oh, look, depends how bad. Don't say the F word. No.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I'll just say fooey, hooey and looey or something like that.
The land's there. The road's there. All the headworks have
been done. And I spoke to AusCare nearly a year ago. So...
excuse me, Minister Ray, what is the actual hold-up? Everything's
ready to go. Maybe they should have given it to
(07:29):
the other tenderer, Apollo Care, who I spoke to a
while ago. They're ready to go. I mean, I just
can't fathom what the hold-up is. Neither. And I'm sure,
and I probably might put Minister Burgoyne in the doo-doo here,
but I'm sure he would approve all what is necessary
to be approved because they want it fast-tracked as well.
(07:50):
It was 120 bears, it's now 140 bears, according to Auscare.
So again, I think, I'm sorry, Minister Ray, I think
you're just telling furfies, pull your finger out and let's
get cracking.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Sue, you've said pretty much everything I would have said,
so I'll leave it at that. But I will just add,
the longer we wait, those construction costs go up as well.
So let's get our skates on here. We've got builders.
We've got so many wonderful tradies in the Northern Territory
that would no doubt be absolutely fanging to get stuck
into this job.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Oh, they would. And as the Northern Territory Government put
$ 10 million towards the headworks, the roads done, everything's ready
to go. So they've done this backwards and forwards. The
Federal Government keeps blaming the NT Government. Come on, pull
your socks up. You know, pull your big man panties
up and let's build the thing.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yep. I agree with you, Sue. It's hard to disagree
with you. I tell you what. You know, because the
thing is people are angered by this. They're upset by this.
You've been fighting for it for years and years. I
was having discussions with the former health minister, Natasha Files,
about it years ago. We were.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Oh, well, it's a bit like VAD. It's more than eight.
It's nine years ago, you know, with the Royal Commission. Yep.
Other things as well. So, you know, how long do
you take and how long do you tell the seniors
of the Northern Church and Australia that how do you
get it right? Well, you listen to people.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
That's the biggest thing. You listen to the people who
are going to use it. You listen to the people
about the PHI. And if you want to sign our petition,
you go to www.codont.org.au and then you'll be directed to
the Coda Australia and you sign it. Let's get cracking.
Let's show them. People power can win.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Sue Shearer, it is always a pleasure. Thank you very
much for your time this morning and we'll catch up
with you again soon, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Thank you. Thank you so much.
And joining me in the studio this morning, it is
the CEO of COTA here in the Northern Territory, Sue Shearer.
Good morning to you, Sue.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good morning, Katie. We're having a little gossip beforehand. Always.
We've been around too long, haven't we?
Speaker 1 (00:12):
We know too many people. We know everyone. Sue, I
tell you what, you know, there's never any shortage of
things going on in your sector and impacting people. And
at the moment, and we spoke pretty extensively about this
earlier in the week, Territory seniors are being urged to
sign this petition opposing these proposed changes to the private
(00:33):
health insurance rebate. Tell me what it means from your perspective.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, 89% of seniors don't want this rebate. And I
think the federal government also forgets Australia-wide, one in four
seniors live in poverty. Now you expect them to absorb
this particular rebate money, which equates to about $ 250. They
used to get the private health insurance rebate. I think
(00:58):
they just, they're making these decisions without any consultation. I mean,
I watched an interview with Sam Ray and really, it
was just rather ludicrous, the actual interview. And I just
wonder who's advising them. We do our research and Australia-wide
as well. We work with CODA Australia, obviously a lot,
(01:19):
as do all the other CODAs. And it's 82% of
seniors don't want this and they will probably stop their
private health insurance. Supposedly this money though that they're saving,
supposedly Katie, will go towards aged care. Now you prove
that to us. I'm sure it's just going to go
into general revenue.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Well and the concern here as well Sue is that
it's not only going to add another financial burden for
older Australians but there's questions about, you know, then if
If they opt to not have private health, what's that
going to mean? When you do need to present to
the hospital, it is eventually it's going to be a
greater burden, you would think, on the federal government in
(01:57):
terms of having to then ensure that there is space
for somebody at the public hospital.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It just amazes me how they don't think things through.
As you just said, we're already in lots of code yellow.
There's already a lot of people in hospital. hospital, which
should be in an aged care facility, which again is
a federal government's responsibility. You work out 80 to 100
people in our hospital system at $ 2, 000 a day. If
(02:23):
I was a Northern Territory government, I'd be sending the
federal government a bill. We'd soon have a new hospital,
wouldn't we?
Speaker 1 (02:31):
And this is the thing, it's really, it is quite infuriating.
And at the heart of it, my concern is for
those seniors. You know, like I feel really sad then
for somebody who's forced to stay in a hospital bed
because there's not another place for them.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh, that's right. The federal government wants people to age
at home. Well, excuse me, federal government, there's a housing
crisis as well. So it just continues to go around
in circles and now they're making it even harder for people.
to keep their private health insurance so they're not a
burden on the hospital system, but a lot of them
won't be able to. They won't be able to absorb
(03:06):
that cost because it'll go up. Besides that, the private
health insurance, they'll put it up again, as we know.
So it's just, I don't know, really. I've never been
so disappointed in decisions that a federal government is making,
and I hear that from all senior Territorians and Australia-wide
as well, that they are so disappointed. They're sick of
(03:26):
the games. that this government is playing with their lives.
And that's what it is. They're playing with their lives.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So do you feel that senior Territorians at the moment
are quite dismayed with the Albanese government?
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Very dismayed. I keep that all the time. They just
don't have any trust whatsoever. So Really, Mr Albanese and
all your ministers, really, I think you're going to be
in for a shellacking. Really?
Speaker 1 (03:52):
And it's sad to hear because, you know, like at
the end of the day, the Labor government, you know,
they pride themselves or they have in the past on...
Making sure that, you know, that they look after older Australians. Yeah,
that's exactly right. Look after those that have worked their lives.
And I think it's a real issue. You know, people
sort of talk about the fact that there's the rise
(04:14):
of One Nation or the rise of other political parties. Well,
you've got to, like if our current government are not
looking after, you know, people who've worked their whole lives,
what do you expect?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Well, exactly. There's no trust there. There's probably no trust
in any of the political parties, maybe, except... for Pauline,
who says it like it is, I guess. She mightn't
agree with it, but, you know, it doesn't probably tell
a lot of furfews. I haven't really investigated it a lot,
but it's just they're really frightened of ageing and they're
(04:44):
really frightened of where they're going to go. They don't
want to end up in hospital. And also, you know,
they'll try and stay home as long as they can,
but then again, with that silly algorithms and the support
at home package as well, that's not working. They've just
made really the most ludicrous decisions and harmful decisions that
affect seniors throughout Australia. I just can't believe where they're
(05:07):
getting their advice from, Katie. The advisors need to be sacked. Really,
I just can't believe it.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Sue, I want to ask you, because obviously we're talking
about these changes to private health, but The other part
of this puzzle, and you and I have spoken about
this on numerous occasions, is the fact that we have
got the funding that's been announced. We've got the provider
that's been announced for those 80-odd Territorians that are currently
in hospital beds across the Northern Territory because there isn't
(05:36):
an aged care facility yet for them. Now, we actually
sought an interview with Sam Ray, the Federal Aged Care Minister,
and they were offered the opportunity to come on the
phone and He declined, provided this statement saying, we know
this project is important to many older people and their
families in the Northern Territory and we'll have more to
(05:57):
say soon. Going on to say, while projects this complex
can't come to life overnight... We're working closely and cooperatively
with all involved to move as quickly as possible. And
went on to say the Albanese government's working closely with
AusCare and the Northern Territory Government to progress this project
as a matter of priority. And the work currently being
(06:19):
done is essential to ensure we help establish a viable,
high-quality development that can meet Darwin's long-term aged care needs.
And this is a large and complex development in a
challenging construction environment. And the project continues to progress through
the usual channels, as well as we work through the
(06:39):
application and the planning phase. The proposed use of the
Northern Territory government-owned land near Palmerston Regional Hospital also requires
careful coordination across land design, infrastructure, approvals, costings and delivery arrangements. Now,
I've got a few observations there, but I might let
you go first, Sue. What do you make of those
(07:01):
comments from the Federal Aged Care Minister?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Am I allowed to swear?
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Oh, look, depends how bad. Don't say the F word. No.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I'll just say fooey, hooey and looey or something like that.
The land's there. The road's there. All the headworks have
been done. And I spoke to AusCare nearly a year ago. So...
excuse me, Minister Ray, what is the actual hold-up? Everything's
ready to go. Maybe they should have given it to
(07:29):
the other tenderer, Apollo Care, who I spoke to a
while ago. They're ready to go. I mean, I just
can't fathom what the hold-up is. Neither. And I'm sure,
and I probably might put Minister Burgoyne in the doo-doo here,
but I'm sure he would approve all what is necessary
to be approved because they want it fast-tracked as well.
(07:50):
It was 120 bears, it's now 140 bears, according to Auscare.
So again, I think, I'm sorry, Minister Ray, I think
you're just telling furfies, pull your finger out and let's
get cracking.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Sue, you've said pretty much everything I would have said,
so I'll leave it at that. But I will just add,
the longer we wait, those construction costs go up as well.
So let's get our skates on here. We've got builders.
We've got so many wonderful tradies in the Northern Territory
that would no doubt be absolutely fanging to get stuck
into this job.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Oh, they would. And as the Northern Territory Government put
$ 10 million towards the headworks, the roads done, everything's ready
to go. So they've done this backwards and forwards. The
Federal Government keeps blaming the NT Government. Come on, pull
your socks up. You know, pull your big man panties
up and let's build the thing.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yep. I agree with you, Sue. It's hard to disagree
with you. I tell you what. You know, because the
thing is people are angered by this. They're upset by this.
You've been fighting for it for years and years. I
was having discussions with the former health minister, Natasha Files,
about it years ago. We were.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Oh, well, it's a bit like VAD. It's more than eight.
It's nine years ago, you know, with the Royal Commission. Yep.
Other things as well. So, you know, how long do
you take and how long do you tell the seniors
of the Northern Church and Australia that how do you
get it right? Well, you listen to people.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
That's the biggest thing. You listen to the people who
are going to use it. You listen to the people
about the PHI. And if you want to sign our petition,
you go to www.codont.org.au and then you'll be directed to
the Coda Australia and you sign it. Let's get cracking.
Let's show them. People power can win.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Sue Shearer, it is always a pleasure. Thank you very
much for your time this morning and we'll catch up
with you again soon, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Thank you. Thank you so much.
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