Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Alice Springs $250m lifeline is delivering

The Prime Minister has confirmed a $250m lifeline thrown to Alice Springs has hit the ground. Read why Albo was in Darwin.

The Prime Minister has said the $250m lifeline promised for Alice Springs had gone towards services for woman and children escaping domestic violence.

Anthony Albanese made a brief stop in Darwin on Monday afternoon en route to the King’s coronation.

Along with Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, Solomon MP Luke Gosling and NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the Prime Minister visited Royal Darwin Hospital to officially open a new cyclotron.

However questions at the short press conference centred around Territory-wide crime.

“We’re investing in community-based organisations,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was at Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday, to officially open a new cyclotron and provide an update on new urgent care clinics Anthony Albanese Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“One area where (the funding has) been spent, for example, community-based organisations providing services for women and children escaping domestic violence.

“(They) were about to be defunded on June 30.

“That’s where the contribution has gone to make sure that those services continue.

“One of the things that we need to do … rather than sitting around in Canberra and determining what should happen, we listen to the local community.

“Linda Burney has returned to the area, is working with Marion (Scrymgour), is working with Malarndirri.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met patient Carol Collins of the Alan Walker Cancer Clinic at Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday, alongside Chief Minister Natasha Fyles. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Albanese also said new urgent care clinics in Palmerston and Alice Springs had entered “final negotiations”.

The announcement was first made in May as an election promise, with the federal government to deliver one in Palmerston and another in Alice Springs.

The bulk-billed clinics, designed to ease pressure on hospitals, are both due to be operational by the middle of this year.

More than 50 are being established across the country.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was last in Darwin in early June ahead of the NASA rocket launches from the Arnhem Space Centre. Picture: Floss Adams

Mr Albanese and Ms Fyles will also officially open the jointly-funded $27m cyclotron facility at the hospital.

The machine, which produces radioisotopes to use in an on-site positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, has been operational for about six months.

The cyclotron enables an extra five patients access scans each day and has led to faster cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Mr Albanese said the urgent care clinics were an important aspect of improving Australia’s health system.

“Providing accessible and affordable healthcare for all Australians is important to this government,” he said.

“These two new urgent care clinics will provide Territorians with more healthcare options, and provide reprieve for our hardworking health staff.”

Earlier, Ms Fyles said the Prime Minister’s brief visit in Darwin was to refuel on his way to London.

“The Prime Minister, as I understand, is travelling through to London for the King’s Coronation,” Ms Fyles said on Monday.

“When I was with him at national cabinet (last week) I spoke to him about the opportunity if he could spend any time on the ground in Darwin, understanding he is refuelling here.

“So I look forward to working with his office to see if there’s any possibility of some time for him in Darwin.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was last in the Territory when he made a snap visit to Alice Springs in January, amid crisis talks about the town’s escalating levels of crime. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Either way, Ms Fyles said Mr Albanese was “absolutely committed to a visit to the Northern Territory in the coming months” when he would spend a couple of days “not only in our urban areas but getting out bush”.

The Prime Minister’s last visit to the Territory was to Alice Springs in January amid crisis talks on the town’s escalating levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.

He spent one afternoon in the regional town ahead of a $250m funding announcement for Central Australia.

Monday’s brief visit will mark Mr Albanese’s second time in Darwin as Prime Minister, the last being in early June shortly after his party’s election win.