Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges:

(i) the need for flexible dialysis services in the Central Desert that allow patients to receive treatment in their home community rather than being forced to travel thousands of kilometres,

(ii) the work of Western Desert Dialysis (Alice Springs, Northern Territory), an innovative renal service provider and recipient of the Excellence in Accessible Communities Award at the 2013 National Disability Awards, and

(iii) the ongoing dispute with the Northern Territory, and the South Australian and Western Australian Governments about who is responsible for funding the operational costs of delivering renal services 'on country' for remote Aboriginal communities; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) ensure That the $10 million earmarked for renal services is spent on improving central desert infrastructure,

(ii) work with communities to develop alternative models of service delivery, such as those proposed by communities like Kiwirrkurra and Warburton, who are prepared to contribute funding from their own community to run services, and

(iii) renew its efforts to negotiate with states and territories and resolve the impasse over patient funding as a matter of urgency.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute, Senator Nash.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate for leave to explain why the government does not support this motion today. Let me make it clear that this government takes the health of Indigenous Australians seriously. The government notes, however, that in 2011-12 the former government allocated $13 million to respond to the findings of the Central Australia Renal Study. It is understood, however, that negotiations by the previous government with the state and territory governments failed to reach an agreement and, as a result, $3 million was returned to consolidated revenue.

In 2013-14, $10 million was allocated for projects to support dialysis in Central Australia, but again, negotiations by the previous government were unsuccessful. This government acknowledges the challenges associated with delivering dialysis services in Central Australia and remains committed to considering innovative ways to deliver services to remote communities and to ensuring that resources effectively reach those who need them. Senator Siewert has previously been informed that the funding for renal dialysis services is under consideration by this government and advice will be provided as it becomes available. This motion today is nothing more than a political stunt and the government does not support it.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute, Senator Siewert.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reasons that Senator Nash outlined for why they do not support this motion are exactly why the Senate should be supporting this motion. The fact is the previous government committed a lot of money to address renal dialysis in Central Australia. Unfortunately, the lack of willingness from the previous government to invest where the states would not, and the lack of willingness for the tri-states, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, to agree to invest resources, has held up delivery of renal dialysis. The fact is that this is an urgent situation. It has been dragging on for years, which is why this motion is so desperately needed. We need to ensure that the sense of urgency is taken on board by this government to provide the infrastructure in Central Australia. It is urgently needed in Central Australia.

Question agreed to.