Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flies into Darwin: $60m to kick start aged care home
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has jetted into Darwin to unveil Labor’s health and aged care plan for the Territory. Read what it includes.
Northern Territory
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has jetted into Darwin to unveil Labor’s health and aged care plan for the Territory which includes $60 million to be used in partnership with an aged care provider to support the delivery of a residential care home for the Darwin region.
The Health and Aged Care Plan also includes an upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centre in Alice Springs, a Headspace Plus and a Youth Specialist Care Centre in Darwin.
Mr Albanese will also reaffirm his pledge of $10.1 million to CareFlight to purchase a plane to support medical evacuations and transportation in the Top End.
The decision to allocate $60 million towards a new Darwin residential aged care home from the Aged Care Capital Assistance program was made before the caretaker period.
Darwin has the lowest number of aged care beds in the country and the funding is intended to directly address critical supply shortages.
The new residential care home in Darwin is to deliver no fewer than 120 new residential care beds.
The CareFlight and mental health services funding allocations are election promises.
Prime Minister Albanese said Labor had already allocated a record $560 million towards hospitals in the Northern Territory and today’s announcement built on that.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the Albanese government was committed to ensuring all older Australians had access to safe, high quality, health and aged care services in Darwin.
“Darwin needs more aged care beds,” she said.
“This funding will help older Territorians better access services in the community they know and love while reducing the number of older patients in local hospitals.”
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory CEO Dr John Paterson said AMSANT welcomed the Albanese government’s Health and Aged Care Plan for the Territory.
“It demonstrates a genuine willingness to act — particularly in critical areas such as aged care and youth mental health, which are vital to improving long-term outcomes for Territorians,” he said.
“The Urgent Care Clinics are easing pressure on hospitals, reducing medevac arrangements, and strengthening the capacity of overstretched primary care services.
“The more care we can provide within local communities, the better the outcomes. Initiatives like these support culturally safe, community-based care that keeps people closer to home and their families.”
Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said the investment for aged care in the Territory was a welcome one.
“The Albanese Labor Government is strengthening healthcare across the entire life of a Territorian, whether it be free vaccines for mums and bubs, more bulk billing for all Territorians, or a strong aged care system for older Territorians.
“These are welcome investments that I know Territorians will benefit from – no matter where you live.”
Health Minster Mark Butler pointed to federal Labor’s Territory initiatives as evidence of its health credentials.
”Labor has delivered eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics for the Territory, cheaper medicines and we’ve delivered the largest hospital funding increase in the country for Territory hospitals,” he said.
Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flies into Darwin: $60m to kick start aged care home
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