Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

First Nations people continue to experience a burden of disease that is 2.3 times greater than that of non-Indigenous Australians. Chronic disease causes 64 per cent of this burden. The budget includes funding for 17 critical First Nations health infrastructure projects across country. Investing in primary care infrastructure will improve access to primary care for people in country, closer to home, and avoid the need for this care to be provided in hospitals. Projects spread across Australia include the health facility in Palmerston in the Northern Territory for Danila Dilba Health Service, a new health clinic in Ceduna for Yadu Health and a new build in Bunbury for South West Aboriginal Medical Service.

The government has committed $61.1 million for early intervention and preventative health actions, with a particular focus on chronic disease. The budget includes $45 million to address chronic kidney disease—the leading cause of hospitalisation for First Nations people, particularly in the Northern Territory—delivering up to 30 four-chair renal dialysis units and related water projects. It was great to be with the health minister when we made this announcement. Sites and timing will be worked out in partnership with key First Nations stakeholders. The budget also includes $1.1 million for two dialysis treatment buses in far west New South Wales and $824,000 both for the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation Aboriginal medical service in New South Wales to expand needed and necessary renal and ECG facilities and for Aboriginal Medical Services Redfern to purchase machines for early detection of cardiovascular health conditions. As the minister said, there is $14.2 million to increase rheumatic heart disease screening, prevention and treatment services, which will be delivered in full partnership with the First Nations health sector.

Improving health outcomes for First Nations mothers and babies is a priority to address the disproportionately adverse perinatal outcomes compared with non-Indigenous mothers and babies. We have committed $22.5 million to Waminda to establish a birthing-on-country centre of excellence. I can say the one on the New South Wales South Coast will be just as good as the one in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

The government is committing to building the Aboriginal community controlled health sector and will provide $164.3 million for new and enhanced health facilities across Australia to provide increased and improved access for First Nations people to culturally safe care. Greater health gains or benefits of up to 50 per cent can be achieved if services are delivered through an Aboriginal community controlled health service, or ACCHO. Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands is the way in which we will make the difference. In 2016, it was estimated that Aboriginal community controlled health services served between one-third to one-half of First Nations populations. The government has listened to the First Nations health experts. We will provide $54.3 million over five years to provide the important 500 traineeships for First Nations people in the Aboriginal community controlled health sector.

The remoteness of communities across the Top End of the Northern Territory means that, for the member for Solomon, for myself and for Senator McCarthy, access to aerial medical services is vital in critical emergency situations. The government is providing funding of $10.1 million in 2022-23 to CareFlight, which will improve access to rescue services and emergency aeromedical transport for injured and sick First Nations Territorians across the Top End of the Northern Territory. Minister, my question is: could you outline how the Albanese government is continuing to work to ensure that health care and infrastructure are delivered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally safe and appropriate way?

See this speech in context