Price: $18.58m spend on dialysis units for remote communities raises water quality questions

Questions are being levelled around water quality in remote communities as the federal government splashes millions on providing more dialysis units.

A dialysis machine.

More on-country dialysis is a “step in the right direction” but pointless if the water quality isn’t up to par, one Territory senator says – as $18.58m in funding is made available.

Seven remote communities across the country are have been earmarked to benefit from the funding from the federal government’s Better Renal Services program to help the communities access new dialysis machines.

In the Territory, Ali Curung, Galiwin’ku, Maningrida, and Yuendumu will be able to get the funding, which Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Ged Kearney said aims to keep dialysis patients on country.

Jingalong and Warburton in WA are also part of the announcement, alongside Normanton in Queensland.

“The Better Renal Services program is about increasing access to culturally safe, lifesaving dialysis treatment for First Nations communities in remote regions,” Mr Kearney said.

CLP NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: Gera Kazakov

However, Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister and NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said many remote communities did not have access to quality water – a requirement for proper dialysis treatment.

“While this announcement is a step in the right direction, it relies on having access to good quality water, and the reality is a lot more needs to be done to improve water quality in remote communities,” she said.

“No Australian should have to live without access to good quality water in 2024, yet there are many people in remote communities that I have been to, who do.”

The average dialysis patient requires 300 and 600 litres of water, with the National Water Grid Fund ensuring access to good quality water, Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said.

“I am thrilled to know that our investments in critical water infrastructure projects across Australia are contributing to better health care on country,” she said.