Dave Tollner (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister inform the House of how Darwin’s new National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre will better prepare Australia to respond to terrorism, natural disasters and other health emergencies?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Solomon for his question. I know how excited he and the people of Darwin are about this important new development. This is a government which takes seriously its responsibilities to help citizens, wherever they are, and the friends of Australia, wherever they are. To that end the government has committed $66 million to establish a national trauma response centre at Royal Darwin Hospital. This will improve Royal Darwin Hospital’s ability to respond to terrorist acts and natural disasters in our region, as that hospital has done so magnificently in the past. This additional funding will provide a 10-bed burns unit, an additional 10 beds in the emergency unit, an additional five operating theatres, an emergency drugs stockpile and equipment including an MRI facility. There will be more permanent clinical staff and there will be more rapid deployment of staff. This is an important development in Australia’s readiness to respond to terrorist contingencies and natural disasters and it is further evidence of this government’s absolute determination to help our citizens and to help the friends of Australia, wherever they may be.