Damian Hale (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I can assure the member for Macarthur that there have not been any snow related deaths in the Northern Territory in recent times. My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing regarding GP superclinics as allocated in the first Rudd Labor government budget. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I ask this question of the minister because in the electorate of Solomon it was a galvanising issue during the campaign, and it remains a galvanising issue for the people of Palmerston and the people of the rural area of Darwin. It is hoped that having the GP superclinic will relieve the pressure on Royal Darwin Hospital’s emergency rooms.

Much has been said about previous governments and the like in neglecting health and I would rather steer away from that because the people in Palmerston and in the rural areas of Darwin are sick and tired of hearing about that. I am happier about the commitment that has been made by the Rudd Labor government in this budget. This budget is a practical demonstration of how this government is committed to delivering healthcare improvements for all Australians. It is fantastic news that one of the first GP superclinics will be delivered in the Palmerston area. I also note that many of my colleagues are getting GP superclinics in their electorates and note how happy they are about that. It is important that, as an Australian, the basic necessity of having health care is not overlooked.

I have been speaking to the people of Palmerston and, as I said, they are sick and tired of the blame game. All they want—just like the rest of us—is to know that when one of their loved ones is sick they can see a doctor, whether it is day or night. Children often get crook at the most inopportune times and it is important for the people of Palmerston to have that service.

During the campaign my father was sick and, as a resident of Palmerston, it was difficult getting Dad in and out of hospital. He spent a fair bit of time in the Royal Darwin Hospital; the services were not adequate in Palmerston at that time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Royal Darwin Hospital for putting up with Dad. It was a little bit of trial and tribulation in itself. They got him through and he was down here for my swearing-in, which was good.

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