1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Joining us live on the line is actually the Minister 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: for Health, Steve Edgington. Hopefully I've got him there. Good 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: morning to you are. 4 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 2: Joe Oh, Good morning Katie, and good morning to all 5 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 2: the listeners. 6 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now, obviously 7 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: we're just hearing from the Chief Minister in terms of 8 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: that cyclone preparation before I get to the health issues 9 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: in terms of the hospitals, ow healthcare centers etc. What 10 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: work I guess is happening behind the scenes at the 11 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: moment from your perspective, to ensure that everybody is prepared 12 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: for this looming cyclone. 13 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 2: Well, certainly our executives have been planning for this over 14 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: the last couple of days and I had to have 15 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: a chance to speak with our Deputy Chief Executive yesterday 16 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 2: about that. So all the planning and preparation is underway 17 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: in the event of a cyclone hitting down or causing 18 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: problems or causing problems in regard to the health side 19 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 2: of things. But the hospital is very well prepared and 20 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: planning as well, and truly and the way should any 21 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: event happen. 22 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: Well, Health Minister. We discussed on the show yesterday this 23 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: health funding. We know the states and territories on a 24 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: collision course with the Commonwealth over public hospital funding. The 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: Health minister's expressing anger. White hot anger is how it's 26 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: been described over this letter from the PM demanding that 27 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: you all reign in the spending if you want to 28 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: funding deal, Honored Minister, you must have been pretty annoyed 29 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: when you got this letter. 30 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: Well, look, i'll tell you what, Codie. Just reading the 31 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: letter and the proposition being put to us that it'd 32 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 2: be necessary for us to reduce and growth in hospital 33 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 2: i should say, and costs to be more contained at 34 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: sustainable levels. And you know, I want to reassure everybody 35 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: that the work going on at the hospital is extraordinary 36 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: and the people on the front line, doctors, nurses, the 37 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 2: admin staff for all of the executive write through out 38 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory is doing everything they possibly can to 39 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: maintain the health system and costs at a sustainable level. 40 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: This is work that goes on every day o the week. 41 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 2: So to see that put into a letter is you know, 42 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 2: it really makes me furious because we know the work 43 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: that goes on here, but in the perspective of asking 44 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 2: us to operate at more sustainable levels. Look, we're already 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 2: four hundred million dollars short when it comes to health 46 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: funding across the board, So I'm not sure what further 47 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: cuts we can make. Yeah, given that we're already four 48 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars short from funding that the Commonwealth should 49 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 2: be paying us for Commonwealth responsibilities. 50 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: We spoke to the AMA. Dr John Zilbers joined us 51 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: in the studio yesterday morning, and I hate to misquote him, 52 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: but he said something along the lines of, you know, 53 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: it's as if they're choosing the curtain color on the 54 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: building while we're inside and it's burning. You know, he 55 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: was pretty he was pretty annoyed, as are you, Like, 56 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: I get it right that you know that we need 57 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: to rain in spending across the board. You know, it's 58 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: something we've spoken about when we're managing the Northern Territory 59 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: budget very often. But when it comes to health services, 60 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: people want to be rest assured that they're able to 61 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: go to the hospital and that they're going to get 62 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: the service that they need. 63 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 2: Well, that's exactly right, Katie, And this is what I 64 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: find quite disregarding the work that we do. Doesn't mean 65 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 2: that we should be closing the doors of the ED 66 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 2: at the Royal dal On Hospital at four o'clock in 67 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: the afternoon. I'm not sure what the Prime Minister is 68 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: getting at, because we know that we've recently had a 69 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: code yellow in the Royal Darwin and Palmerston and the 70 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: amount of patients coming through the door is just extraordinary 71 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: levels and we can't cut back further. What we do need, Katie, 72 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: is to be brought into line with the National funding Agreement. 73 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 2: I've said this many times that whilst we get thirty 74 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: one point eight percent of the Commonwealth contribution rate, we're 75 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: still roughly about six percent behind, which is two hundred 76 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: million dollars a year short to start with. And really 77 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: what we're asking for is can we be brought up 78 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: to the national average that will give us two hundred 79 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: million dollars a year. But the National Cabinets said back 80 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 2: in December twenty twenty three that we would all get 81 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: to forty two point five percent. Now, this would give 82 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: us a certain amount of money two hundred million dollars 83 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 2: and extra to get on with the job deliver health 84 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: services across the territory. 85 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: Steve can I ask, as I'd understood it from some 86 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: of the other reporting over the last couple of days 87 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: there was going to be a meeting I thought with 88 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: the State and territory health ministers on this. Has there 89 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: been a further meeting on this in the last couple 90 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: of days. 91 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: No, not the State and territory health ministers. Certainly we 92 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: keep in contact, but there was a Premiers and First 93 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: Minister's meeting I think it was yesterday other day before, 94 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: and I've spoken to the Chief Minister of so the 95 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: work conversations at the highest levels around where this funding 96 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 2: agreement is heading. But at this stage there is no 97 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 2: breakthrough when it comes to funding. We're on a pathway 98 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: and we're constantly negotiating with the Commonwealth because at the 99 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 2: end of the day, we want to negotiate in good 100 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 2: faith and we really want the Commonwealth to come to 101 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:27,799 Speaker 2: the table and start matching our funding of the national 102 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 2: average at the moment. 103 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: Would you invite the Prime Minister to come and sit 104 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: in the emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital for twenty 105 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: four hours and see just how busy it is. 106 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: Well, certainly, and perhaps that's what he needs to do, 107 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: because he's certainly the comments made in this letter, he's 108 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: either uninformed or unsure of what's happening right across the 109 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: Northern Territory, because as I was listening to doctors Orbis 110 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 2: the other day, we've got thirty times the national average 111 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 2: when it comes to end stage kidney disease. Here in 112 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. We've got one in three Aboriginal people 113 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 2: living with type two diabetes. We've got highest levels of 114 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 2: chronic disease in Australia. So I'm not sure exactly whether 115 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 2: the Prime Minister is across these issues, but the health 116 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: issues that territories are facing here in the Northern Territory 117 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 2: is over and above many parts of Australia at the moment. 118 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: And I reckon anyone that lives here, anyone that's gone 119 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: to any emergency department across our wonderful hospitals around the 120 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: Northern Territory would understand that A minister can I ask 121 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: did you have another meeting or did the department have 122 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: another meeting with the FEDS regarding those maternity services and 123 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: that ten million dollars? Is there any update on that figure. 124 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: There's no further update, but those negotiations that are still going. 125 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: I think last time we spoke, I had sent a 126 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 2: further letter to Minister Butler. I have reached out to 127 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: him recently, so I'm hopeful that I'll have some answers 128 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 2: very soon in regard. 129 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: To that minister. Before I let you go, just on 130 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: this hospital funding and you know, I know that we're 131 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: already stretched. I certainly understand the fact that we've just 132 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: come out of you know, that cold yellow last week. 133 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: But is there from your perspective, is there any capacity 134 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: for savings in our hospitals. 135 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: Not at the moment, Katie. We're always looking for savings 136 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 2: and at the moment we're stretched to the limit when 137 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: it comes to delivering health services right across the Northern Territory. 138 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 2: And I need to make this point, Katie, that it's 139 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: not just the two hundred million under the National Health 140 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: Reform Agreement. As I said before, we have roughly about 141 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 2: eighty stranded elderly people in our hospitals every day of 142 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: the week, and this is costing the territory forty million 143 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: dollars per year, where ninety five million dollars short in 144 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 2: primary healthcare, fifty one million dollars short for the care flight. 145 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: And now these are the point that I need to make, 146 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: is that these are Commonwealth responsibilities. We're delivering these services 147 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: on behalf of the Commonwealth, but they're not paying us 148 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 2: to do it. So that's one hundred and eighty six 149 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 2: million dollars. The two hundred dollars under the National Health 150 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: Reform Agreement is a separate issue in itself, so we're 151 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: talking four hundred million dollars of underfunding across the Northern 152 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: Territory at. 153 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: The monment, Steve, really quick one before I let you go. 154 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: Last Thursday, we actually caught up with your CEO of 155 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: the Department of Health and he'd said that the reality 156 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: here is that we also need to start planning for 157 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: a new hospital, and you know he didn't shy away 158 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: from the fact that that would be in the billions, 159 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: not the millions. Do you think we're ever going to 160 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: be able to get there if we can't even sort 161 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: the funding out. 162 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: Look, that's it's a very good question, you know, putting 163 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 2: the funding issue aside at the moment to the Chief 164 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: Executive is exactly right. We've had ongoing conversations about the 165 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: need for a new tertiary hospital in the Northern Territory. 166 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 2: We know that the Royal down beyond its economic life. 167 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: What we do need to do is start planning for 168 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 2: a new hospital in Darwen. We are looking at options 169 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 2: at the moment around that and of course costings. He's 170 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 2: exactly right. We're not talking millions. We're talking billions to 171 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: build a new hospital. But we need to start planning 172 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 2: for the future because we can't keep adding on to 173 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 2: a building that's beyond its useful life. 174 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: Well, Steve Edgington, the Minister for Health, where are you 175 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 1: this morning? 176 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: Mate? 177 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: Are you in Darwin or have you managed to get 178 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: back to Tenant Creek where you've got to be dry. 179 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 2: No, I'm not back in Tennant Creek yet, Katie. But 180 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 2: I did bump into Bill jenn and he was on 181 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: his way to Alice Springs. No, in fact, I'm on 182 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: my way to closing the gap per Minister's meeting. 183 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: Oh well, I'll let you go. I know you've made 184 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,719 Speaker 1: some space for us this morning, and it's you fit 185 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: us in which I'm very grateful for. 186 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 2: Good on you, Katy, and look good morning to all 187 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 2: the listeners, and thanks for the opportunity to talk about health. 188 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, Steve Edgington, Thank you, thanks so much 189 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:03,839 Speaker 1: for your time this morning.