Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we know, the election commitments continue and this morning
the Prime Minister is in Darwin with a number of
ministers to unveil Labour's Health and age Care plan for
the Northern Territory, which includes sixty million dollars to be
used in partnership with an age care provider to support
the delivery of a residential care home for the Darwin region.
(00:21):
The Health and age Care plan also includes an upgraded
Medicare mental health center in Alice Springs, a headspace plus
and a youth specialist care center in Darwin. Anthony Albanese
is also set to reaffirm his pledge of ten point
one million dollars to Care Flight to purchase a plane
(00:41):
to support medical evacuations and transportation in the top end.
Now joining me on the line to talk further about
this is the Minister for Government Services, Finance and Women,
Katie Gallagher. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
You, Good morning, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Minister, thank you so much for your time. Now, first
of what is this sixty million dollar investment into age
care going to see exactly?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah, So this is an important project, but it's essentially
to build a new one hundred and twenty residential care
beds in Darwin. We know that Darwin's got the lowest
number of age care beds in the country and this
will go directly to trying to address that. But it's
not only that. I mean, we're also doing projects in
(01:27):
other parts of the Northern Territory like in Malaningrida and
places like that. So this is a big one for
Darwin and it will address really I think a lot
of unmet need that people would know exists here and
help the hospital really as well, which we know is
a place where they get a lot of older people
who can't exit into other options. This will help address that.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Look, it's something we've spoken about extensively on this show
over the years. We've had a number of people contact
us at different times to say they're elderly pair needs
and age care bed forced to stay at Royal Darwin
Hospital for extended periods. You know, obviously the nurses the
healthcare stuff doing a phenomenal job there, but it's not
(02:10):
ideal for those age care patients. But look, I guess
the concern I've got is that Back in twenty twenty three,
there was an announcement made about an expression of interest
process for a sixty bed age care facility including twelve
specialist dementia care places in the Greater Darwin area, and
we haven't seen anything eventuate from that. My understanding is
(02:33):
that we weren't actually able to find a provider through
that EOI process. So what's going to be different this
time round?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Well, I think a lot has happened since then, including
all of the reforms to age care that we've pushed
through and a lot of new investment in age care,
and we're seeing it right across the country that providers
are now prepared because they can sort of see the
certainty of the new age care system and the money
that's going into it, that they can now start thinking
about or you know, in terms from a business plan,
(03:05):
making those investments in capital essentially, which is facilities. So
my understanding is with the project that we want to
see delivered with our sixty million dollars, is that there
are a number of providers around five I think from memory,
who are very interested in this and I don't think
there's going to be any shortage of interest in getting
it done. We'll work with the Northern Territory government of
(03:28):
course around how that's delivered, but we're putting the money
on the table that really makes it viable for providers
to come in and provide that care. And we're seeing
this around the country Like in the I come from
the Act, we've got similar issues around shortage of beds
and we're now seeing capital investments start to flow because
of the reforms essentially and providing certainty to the age
(03:51):
care sector about what the government's role will be.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So you are confident that we're going to be able
to provide to get a provider this time round. I
mean what if we can't, Look.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
We'll work with the Northern Territory government. We obviously see
this as a real need and again I just in
terms of talking with the Age Care Minister this morning,
she was saying there is a number of providers that
are actively interested in it. So we feel very confident
that this will project will absolutely get done and we
will get those beds in place and we'll continue, as
(04:25):
I said, to work with the Northern Territory government about
rolling out this PROGRES project.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
So just in terms of that sixty million dollar investment,
so is that going to see the actual infrastructure built
and then the Northern Territory government needs to you know,
it needs to actually find the budget to be able
to fund the operational costings.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Well, I think it's a it's probably a mix of
all of those things. There's probably some discussions about land
where the you know, and I understand there's land near
the hospital that has been considered as an option. Here.
Obviously our commitment of funds and then working with the
provider about their role in delivering the projects. So I
(05:06):
think there's always you know, a number of elements to
it that need to be rolled through, but we're very
confident that our commitment of sixty million dollars will get
this project done.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Minister. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because sixty million
dollars is an enormous commitment to the Northern Territory, but
I do want to stand up for the families that
you know that really do want this to happen. And
I mean they're going to be saying this morning, well,
why is this, If this is so important, and if
there's providers that are keen and if there's a way
(05:38):
that we can make this work, why is it only
being announced on the eve of an election.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Well, I think this is when we did the age
care reforms late last year. So that's been settled now
we had to get those through the Parliament and obviously
we've got to, I think be clear about what the
work going forward is. We've done a huge amount in
age care really to stop the sector from falling over
in the last three years. When we came to government,
you know, it was terrible. The Royal Commission had really
(06:08):
outlined all of the stuff that hadn't been done in
age care, and we're trying to turn that ship, including
getting the workforce in place so you know, making sure
we're paying age care workers the right amount of money
has helped stop them all leaving the sector, which means
we're in a position to employ them to actually run
the services. So I don't think you can see it
just in isolation of all the other work that's been
(06:28):
done in age care to make sure that you know,
when we do put money on the table for this facility,
that we've actually got the workforce and the providers prepared
to work with us to deliver it. And you know,
that's been a big part of the last three years,
is trying to fix all of the problems in age care.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
How soon is this facility going to be up and
running well?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I think that probably depends on those kind of final
negotiations about where it goes a provider getting all that done.
But our money is on the table and we are
very keen to make sure that this is done as
quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Has there been some discussions with the Northern Territory government
on that.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Look, yes, not me personally, but I understand the Minister
for Health and through him, the Age Care Minister have
been engaged both with the former Northern Territory government and
the current Northern Territory government about getting this done all right.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I understand there's also a number of other announcements being
made today. What else is being announced, which is I
guess new money that hasn't previously. I know the commitment
around care flight is something that had previously been committed.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, that's right, and I think part of today is
bringing it all together. So we've been doing a lot
of work in the hospital funding with the Northern Territory.
We were in an urgent care center this morning and
there's additional urgent care clinics opening and then all of
our mental health announcements, so I know that's a big
area of need right across Australia, but here in the
(07:58):
territory as well, making sure people can get access to
that mental health care, you know if it's kind of
less urgent through the Medicare mental health centers, but also
through Headspace with enhanced services there and a focus on
really young people with chronic mental health conditions or very
complex conditions. So all of that's part of the commitment
(08:20):
that we have been talking about today. And they're really
popular services and we know there's no shortage of demand,
so really important that Northern Territory in Darwin gets it's
their share of those important programs.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Yeah. I know again through discussions I've had with listeners
on the show, particularly with teenage children and some of them,
you know, with serious mental health concerns unable to get
the support that is required. So I think it is
absolutely imperative that that is able to happen for the
Northern Territory. Minister, just a quick one before I let
(08:53):
you go. I know that there has been some concerns
raised about cuts to the public service. It's something that
you're obviously pretty worried about as the minister in that space.
My understanding is that Peter Dutton has now backflipped on
cutting the public service. What I mean, has he had
a change of heart? What do you make of it all?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Look, it's a bit hard to keep up, I have
to say, because there's a lot of Peter Dutton changing
his mind, but also a lot of his colleagues saying
something different. Look, essentially, they've said they'll cut forty one
thousand jobs from the public service, then they said they'd
do it by attrition, and then today we've had some
of them saying they're going to do it by redundancy.
But essentially they're looking at cutting the public service by
(09:37):
about twenty percent. Now here in Darwin. That would be
about five hundred across the territory, to be about five
hundred jobs would go, of which three hundred or so
would be in Darwin. And the big employers are in
places like Services Australia, Defense, NIMA, those big frontline agencies
that really work to help people. So we are really
(09:59):
worried about We think it's a big griek. We've tried
to make sure that we've got enough public servants to
do the job that we ask them to do and
make sure that people get the services they need. And
that's why I'm kind of traveling around the country arguing
against them because I just think it'd be bad for
people if these cuts happen.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Hey just really quickly. I know as well, today the
Opposition leader Peter Dutton or it's certainly been revealed nationally
that he was allegedly a target of a terror plot
by a schoolboy in Queensland. I understand that that press
conference in Darwin this morning as well, the Prime Minister
said that he's also been a target at different times.
I mean it is pretty worrying stuff that our political leaders,
(10:38):
you know, whether your love or loath our politicians, you know,
no matter what side of the fence you sit on,
I think it's pretty disgraceful when people are having to
worry about, you know, about threats against the safety. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Look, I think the world, you know, feels like a
bit of an uncertain place at times, and you know,
safety of all our citizens is really important. And yeah,
I mean politicians, I guess, because we're a bit more public,
we're a bit more out there, we can often be
you know, targets of security concerns. But the PM said
this morning, you know, he has a lot of faith
(11:13):
in our security agencies and in the AFP and that
who provide protection to people. But yeah, unfortunately, you know,
the incident with Peter Dutton is one of I think
a number that face high profile politicians, so yeah, it
seems to be part of our work these days. But
the AFP and that are great in keeping people safe.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Well, Minister for Women, Finance, Government Services and Public Service,
Katie Gallagher, really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much,
Thanks so much, Katie, Thank you
As we know, the election commitments continue and this morning
the Prime Minister is in Darwin with a number of
ministers to unveil Labour's Health and age Care plan for
the Northern Territory, which includes sixty million dollars to be
used in partnership with an age care provider to support
the delivery of a residential care home for the Darwin region.
(00:21):
The Health and age Care plan also includes an upgraded
Medicare mental health center in Alice Springs, a headspace plus
and a youth specialist care center in Darwin. Anthony Albanese
is also set to reaffirm his pledge of ten point
one million dollars to Care Flight to purchase a plane
(00:41):
to support medical evacuations and transportation in the top end.
Now joining me on the line to talk further about
this is the Minister for Government Services, Finance and Women,
Katie Gallagher. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
You, Good morning, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Minister, thank you so much for your time. Now, first
of what is this sixty million dollar investment into age
care going to see exactly?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah, So this is an important project, but it's essentially
to build a new one hundred and twenty residential care
beds in Darwin. We know that Darwin's got the lowest
number of age care beds in the country and this
will go directly to trying to address that. But it's
not only that. I mean, we're also doing projects in
(01:27):
other parts of the Northern Territory like in Malaningrida and
places like that. So this is a big one for
Darwin and it will address really I think a lot
of unmet need that people would know exists here and
help the hospital really as well, which we know is
a place where they get a lot of older people
who can't exit into other options. This will help address that.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Look, it's something we've spoken about extensively on this show
over the years. We've had a number of people contact
us at different times to say they're elderly pair needs
and age care bed forced to stay at Royal Darwin
Hospital for extended periods. You know, obviously the nurses the
healthcare stuff doing a phenomenal job there, but it's not
(02:10):
ideal for those age care patients. But look, I guess
the concern I've got is that Back in twenty twenty three,
there was an announcement made about an expression of interest
process for a sixty bed age care facility including twelve
specialist dementia care places in the Greater Darwin area, and
we haven't seen anything eventuate from that. My understanding is
(02:33):
that we weren't actually able to find a provider through
that EOI process. So what's going to be different this
time round?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Well, I think a lot has happened since then, including
all of the reforms to age care that we've pushed
through and a lot of new investment in age care,
and we're seeing it right across the country that providers
are now prepared because they can sort of see the
certainty of the new age care system and the money
that's going into it, that they can now start thinking
about or you know, in terms from a business plan,
(03:05):
making those investments in capital essentially, which is facilities. So
my understanding is with the project that we want to
see delivered with our sixty million dollars, is that there
are a number of providers around five I think from memory,
who are very interested in this and I don't think
there's going to be any shortage of interest in getting
it done. We'll work with the Northern Territory government of
(03:28):
course around how that's delivered, but we're putting the money
on the table that really makes it viable for providers
to come in and provide that care. And we're seeing
this around the country Like in the I come from
the Act, we've got similar issues around shortage of beds
and we're now seeing capital investments start to flow because
of the reforms essentially and providing certainty to the age
(03:51):
care sector about what the government's role will be.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So you are confident that we're going to be able
to provide to get a provider this time round. I
mean what if we can't, Look.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
We'll work with the Northern Territory government. We obviously see
this as a real need and again I just in
terms of talking with the Age Care Minister this morning,
she was saying there is a number of providers that
are actively interested in it. So we feel very confident
that this will project will absolutely get done and we
will get those beds in place and we'll continue, as
(04:25):
I said, to work with the Northern Territory government about
rolling out this PROGRES project.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
So just in terms of that sixty million dollar investment,
so is that going to see the actual infrastructure built
and then the Northern Territory government needs to you know,
it needs to actually find the budget to be able
to fund the operational costings.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Well, I think it's a it's probably a mix of
all of those things. There's probably some discussions about land
where the you know, and I understand there's land near
the hospital that has been considered as an option. Here.
Obviously our commitment of funds and then working with the
provider about their role in delivering the projects. So I
(05:06):
think there's always you know, a number of elements to
it that need to be rolled through, but we're very
confident that our commitment of sixty million dollars will get
this project done.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Minister. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because sixty million
dollars is an enormous commitment to the Northern Territory, but
I do want to stand up for the families that
you know that really do want this to happen. And
I mean they're going to be saying this morning, well,
why is this, If this is so important, and if
there's providers that are keen and if there's a way
(05:38):
that we can make this work, why is it only
being announced on the eve of an election.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Well, I think this is when we did the age
care reforms late last year. So that's been settled now
we had to get those through the Parliament and obviously
we've got to, I think be clear about what the
work going forward is. We've done a huge amount in
age care really to stop the sector from falling over
in the last three years. When we came to government,
you know, it was terrible. The Royal Commission had really
(06:08):
outlined all of the stuff that hadn't been done in
age care, and we're trying to turn that ship, including
getting the workforce in place so you know, making sure
we're paying age care workers the right amount of money
has helped stop them all leaving the sector, which means
we're in a position to employ them to actually run
the services. So I don't think you can see it
just in isolation of all the other work that's been
(06:28):
done in age care to make sure that you know,
when we do put money on the table for this facility,
that we've actually got the workforce and the providers prepared
to work with us to deliver it. And you know,
that's been a big part of the last three years,
is trying to fix all of the problems in age care.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
How soon is this facility going to be up and
running well?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I think that probably depends on those kind of final
negotiations about where it goes a provider getting all that done.
But our money is on the table and we are
very keen to make sure that this is done as
quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Has there been some discussions with the Northern Territory government
on that.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Look, yes, not me personally, but I understand the Minister
for Health and through him, the Age Care Minister have
been engaged both with the former Northern Territory government and
the current Northern Territory government about getting this done all right.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I understand there's also a number of other announcements being
made today. What else is being announced, which is I
guess new money that hasn't previously. I know the commitment
around care flight is something that had previously been committed.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, that's right, and I think part of today is
bringing it all together. So we've been doing a lot
of work in the hospital funding with the Northern Territory.
We were in an urgent care center this morning and
there's additional urgent care clinics opening and then all of
our mental health announcements, so I know that's a big
area of need right across Australia, but here in the
(07:58):
territory as well, making sure people can get access to
that mental health care, you know if it's kind of
less urgent through the Medicare mental health centers, but also
through Headspace with enhanced services there and a focus on
really young people with chronic mental health conditions or very
complex conditions. So all of that's part of the commitment
(08:20):
that we have been talking about today. And they're really
popular services and we know there's no shortage of demand,
so really important that Northern Territory in Darwin gets it's
their share of those important programs.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Yeah. I know again through discussions I've had with listeners
on the show, particularly with teenage children and some of them,
you know, with serious mental health concerns unable to get
the support that is required. So I think it is
absolutely imperative that that is able to happen for the
Northern Territory. Minister, just a quick one before I let
(08:53):
you go. I know that there has been some concerns
raised about cuts to the public service. It's something that
you're obviously pretty worried about as the minister in that space.
My understanding is that Peter Dutton has now backflipped on
cutting the public service. What I mean, has he had
a change of heart? What do you make of it all?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Look, it's a bit hard to keep up, I have
to say, because there's a lot of Peter Dutton changing
his mind, but also a lot of his colleagues saying
something different. Look, essentially, they've said they'll cut forty one
thousand jobs from the public service, then they said they'd
do it by attrition, and then today we've had some
of them saying they're going to do it by redundancy.
But essentially they're looking at cutting the public service by
(09:37):
about twenty percent. Now here in Darwin. That would be
about five hundred across the territory, to be about five
hundred jobs would go, of which three hundred or so
would be in Darwin. And the big employers are in
places like Services Australia, Defense, NIMA, those big frontline agencies
that really work to help people. So we are really
(09:59):
worried about We think it's a big griek. We've tried
to make sure that we've got enough public servants to
do the job that we ask them to do and
make sure that people get the services they need. And
that's why I'm kind of traveling around the country arguing
against them because I just think it'd be bad for
people if these cuts happen.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Hey just really quickly. I know as well, today the
Opposition leader Peter Dutton or it's certainly been revealed nationally
that he was allegedly a target of a terror plot
by a schoolboy in Queensland. I understand that that press
conference in Darwin this morning as well, the Prime Minister
said that he's also been a target at different times.
I mean it is pretty worrying stuff that our political leaders,
(10:38):
you know, whether your love or loath our politicians, you know,
no matter what side of the fence you sit on,
I think it's pretty disgraceful when people are having to
worry about, you know, about threats against the safety. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Look, I think the world, you know, feels like a
bit of an uncertain place at times, and you know,
safety of all our citizens is really important. And yeah,
I mean politicians, I guess, because we're a bit more public,
we're a bit more out there, we can often be
you know, targets of security concerns. But the PM said
this morning, you know, he has a lot of faith
(11:13):
in our security agencies and in the AFP and that
who provide protection to people. But yeah, unfortunately, you know,
the incident with Peter Dutton is one of I think
a number that face high profile politicians, so yeah, it
seems to be part of our work these days. But
the AFP and that are great in keeping people safe.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Well, Minister for Women, Finance, Government Services and Public Service,
Katie Gallagher, really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much,
Thanks so much, Katie, Thank you
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