Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Can the minister update the Senate on funding announced for Indigenous communities in remote Central Australia?

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

I thank the senator for her question. I can advise the chamber that on 29 July I was pleased to announce funding totalling $10 million over three years to the Northern Territory government to develop accommodation and provide infrastructure for regional services in Tennant Creak and in Alice Springs. This critical infrastructure will be to assist end-stage renal patients who need to relocate to continue to access treatment. I think we can all agree in this chamber that it is not good enough that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in remote Central Australia experience end-stage renal disease at rates 18 to 20 times higher than in the wider Australian population. Sadly, these people are on average at least 20 years younger than in other areas of Australia. This new funding will assist improved access to renal infrastructure in the remote communities of Docker River, Papunya and Mount Liebig, allowing patients to remain in their communities.

While the Northern Territory government has ongoing responsibility for the delivery of dialysis and renal services, the Commonwealth is contributing infrastructure funding to support patients to have access to the renal care they require where it is needed. The Northern Territory Minister for Housing, Bess Price, commented in her recent media release that:

There is a high level of need for these services in Central Australia and this funding will provide much-needed support for patients to access appropriate housing, daily treatment and clinical support.

I echo Ms Price's statement that both levels of government have listened to the needs of the people living remotely and I am proud to be supporting better services for the bush. The new funding complements the government's $1.4 billion commitment over three years to continue the delivery of primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister also advise the Senate what else the government is doing to tackle chronic kidney disease in remote Australia?

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

In addition to the agreement reached with the Northern Territory government, recently I also announced funding of $9 million over three years to Purple House, to continue the delivery of dialysis services and a range of renal support activities in Alice Springs and in remote communities in Central Australia. Purple House—and I particularly acknowledge Sarah Brown—does an amazing job working with dialysis patients and the government is pleased to be able to provide this extra funding for those renal services in Central Australia. The government is also working with Purple House to finalise details of a funding agreement to provide a further $6.3 million for the development of additional renal infrastructure in remote communities and to assist renal patients to remain in these communities. This funding will not only give patients ongoing access to dialysis treatment in country; it will assist Purple House to expand its dialysis treatment to provide holistic services and Indigenous employment.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister inform the Senate of further initiatives the government has implemented to improve health for Indigenous Australians, specifically in the Northern Territory?

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

I am also pleased to advise that on my recent visit to Darwin to attend the Indigenous Health Summit the Australian government, the Northern Territory government and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, AMSANT, recommitted to a framework agreement aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The renewed five-year agreement from 2015 to 2020 promotes shared responsibility and the need for genuine, ongoing partnerships between Aboriginal community controlled health services and both levels of government. The initiative is another example of a coalition government that is able to work constructively with states, territories and NGOs to achieve improved planning and program implementation for Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

This coalition government is committed to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to close the gap in health disparity.