St John Ambulance NT: Territory the only jurisdiction in Australia where ambulance funding falls

New figures have shown that government funding of ambulances services in the NT has gone backwards despite soaring demand. Read how St John is lobbying the health department to stop the funding rot.

St John NT saw its overall revenue decline in 2022–23, despite transporting 4553 more patients than the year. Picture: Che Chorley

The Northern Territory’s ambulance operator transported 4500 extra patients last financial year but received $1.3m less government funding to perform its vital work, new figures show.

The NT was the only jurisdiction in Australia where ambulance funding fell between 2021–22 and 2022–23, according to the Productivity Commission’s latest Report on Government Services.

The Labor government has laid the blame at the feet of the Commonwealth, saying the decline was due to the cessation of Covid-19 era emergency support – ignoring the fact that all other jurisdictions managed to grow the ambulance funding pie despite the decrease in federal funding.

According to the Productivity Commission report, St John NT’s overall revenue in 2021–22 was $52.3m but fell by $800,000 to $51.5m in 2022–23.

The shortfall was due to a $1.3m reduction in government support, with $45.1m worth of funding provided to St John NT in 2021–22 sliding to $43.8m in 2022–23.

Health Minister Selena Uibo. Picture: File

The reduction in funding contributed to St John returning a deficit of about $1.8m in 2022–23.

In 2021–22, the organisation returned a budget surplus of about $1.2m.

Simultaneous to its reduced funding, St John is groaning under soaring demand for its service.

St John transported 4553 more patients in 2022–23 (43,097) than the year prior (38,544).

It responded to 241.1 incidents per 1000 people in the NT, the highest response rate in the nation and significantly higher than the national average of 161.7.

St John Ambulance NT’s director of ambulance services Andrew Thomas said his organisation was lobbying the Department of Health for additional support.

St John NT director of ambulance services Andrew Thomas. Picture: Che Chorley

“Overall funding to St John NT decreased in 2022–23 compared to the prior year due to additional funds being previously provided to cover the response to Covid-19,” he said.

“Despite the return to mostly pre-pandemic conditions, workloads and patient numbers have continued to increase.

“St John NT is working with the Department of Health to address this and the additional costs associated with delivering our service.”

Health Minister Selena Uibo said the NT government was providing record levels of funding to St John NT.

Member for Namatjira Bill Yan, the CLPs health spokesman, during Estimates Committee. Picture: Floss Adams.

“We recognise the current pressures our medical professionals are working under in the Northern Territory,” she said.

“This is why the Territory Labor government has been increasing funding to St John every year, with funding for 2023–24 being the highest ever funding provided by the Territory Government to St John.”

CLP health spokesman Bill Yan said ambulance funding going backwards last financial year was “utterly appalling and deeply concerning”.

“This neglect endangers lives and undermines community safety,” he said.

“Emergency services like St John should be fully supported.

“With responsible budget management, the CLP will prioritise essential services over frivolous projects.

“Our plan ensures resources address critical areas effectively such as first responders at St John.”

The bullet point summary was created with the assistance of AI technology (PaLM2) then edited and approved for publication by an editor.