Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield keeps interjecting, and, as I have said, all Labor delivered was a fenced off bush site. As I said, there is a big difference between a 60-bed hospital and a 116-bed hospital—a point that has been wasted on those opposite. Minister, there has been a lot of scaremongering and deliberate misinformation from those on the other side about this very important project, which is important not only for the people of Palmerston but also for Darwin people as well as people of the greater Darwin area.

Minister, I have three questions. First, can you please confirm for the sake of those on the other side that progress on the Palmerston Regional Hospital is on track and that the facility will admit its first patients in mid-2018? I understand that the building will be completed in 2017 and it will take approximately 12 months to fit out the hospital, which I understand is a standard procedure.

Second, my Northern Territory colleague Minister for Health John Elferink and I have stated on a number of occasions that the Palmerston hospital is fully funded. Despite this, Senator Peris has suggested that funding is in jeopardy and that there is a $50 million shortfall. For the benefit of those who either did not hear or chose to ignore, would you please inform the House of the funding status of the Palmerston Regional Hospital?

Third: Minister, is it fair to say that you, your department and I are keeping a close eye on this project and that we are satisfied that the project is meeting the agreed time frames?

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