NT lands $51 million one-off hospital boost by Albanese Government

The Albanese Government is delivering “real results”, claims Solomon MP Luke Gosling, who says Territorians stand to benefit from a massive $1.7 billion Commonwealth boost.

Territory hospitals have received a 30 per cent boost in Commonwealth funding as part of $1.7 billion nationwide rollout.

An extra $51 million will be pumped into the Northern Territory’s hospitals as part of a nationwide funding boost.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $1.7 billion would be splashed across the country in a bid to “protect” Medicare.

In announcing the mega boost, Mr Albanese took aim at opposition leader Peter Dutton.

“Our public health system is too precious to entrust to Peter Dutton and the Liberals, who ripped $50 billion out of public hospital funding when he was Health Minister,” he said.

“This $1.7 billion funding boost will protect our public hospital system, strengthen Medicare and help build Australia’s Future.”

With the Territory receiving a one-off $51 million boost in 2024-25, the jurisdiction’s total public health services and hospitals funding will land around $560 million in 2025-26.

The Commonwealth’s total funding for hospitals in 2025-26 will jump by 12 per cent to $33.9 billion.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling says the funding boost will “directly improve” services in the Territory. Picture: Keri Megelus

Solomon MP Luke Gosling said the boost would “directly improve” local hospital service, such as waiting times.

“(We) are delivering real results for the Territory, investing in our health system to ensure everyone has access to the care they need, when they need it,” he said.

“Territorians from all corners of the Territory will benefit from faster, more accessible healthcare, whether in Darwin, Palmerston, rural area or the bush.”

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said governments had been engaged in the “blame game” too long.

“This infuriates Australians when all they want is to make sure they don’t spend hours ramped in an ambulance or waiting in an overcrowded emergency department,” he said.
“The choice facing Australians at the coming election couldn’t be clearer: an Albanese Government committing more funding to public hospitals, or more cuts from Peter Dutton, who cut $50 billion from public hospitals when he was Health Minister.”

Originally published as NT lands $51 million one-off hospital boost by Albanese Government