1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000
Speaker 1: We have extensively covered the fact that the maternity services

2
00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:07,840
Speaker 1: at the Darwin private hospital aren't set to close now.

3
00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,440
Speaker 1: April seventeen is the date that that's going to happen.

4
00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,880
Speaker 1: The Labor Federal politician for Solomon, Luke Gosling, issued a

5
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,680
Speaker 1: statement saying yesterday that Healthscote's decision to shut its maternity

6
00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:23,480
Speaker 1: ward in Darwin is an unacceptable betrayal of territory families

7
00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,080
Speaker 1: who deserve better. Luke Gosling joins me on the line

8
00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:27,520
Speaker 1: right now.

9
00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:32,520
Speaker 2: Good morning, Luke, Good morning Katie. Yeah, I was really

10
00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,479
Speaker 2: disappointed to hear the news obviously, but have been speaking

11
00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:41,440
Speaker 2: to the federal Health Minister this morning and whilst they

12
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:45,640
Speaker 2: haven't got a request for assistance from the ANTI government

13
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,320
Speaker 2: as yet, I just wanted to reassure all those families

14
00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,880
Speaker 2: out there that we stand ready to assist the Northern

15
00:00:53,960 --> 00:01:00,480
Speaker 2: Territory government in their discussions with the private healthy so

16
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,400
Speaker 2: we can get a good result for them. It's a

17
00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:04,559
Speaker 2: shocking in.

18
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,399
Speaker 1: What way could the federal government assist at the mibots.

19
00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:10,440
Speaker 2: Or in a variety of ways. That's up to the

20
00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,399
Speaker 2: NT government about what sort of assistance they end up requesting.

21
00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,360
Speaker 2: But understand that there's been quite good discussion so far

22
00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:23,600
Speaker 2: between the NT government and some private health providers and

23
00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,040
Speaker 2: health Scope. So we we just stand ready to assist.

24
00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,880
Speaker 2: One of the things we've done to take the pressure

25
00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,720
Speaker 2: off our public system, which you would think are going

26
00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:38,800
Speaker 2: to have a lot more births happening, there is an

27
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,880
Speaker 2: extra fifty million dollars in the coming year four hospitals.

28
00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:44,920
Speaker 2: That takes it up to a record amount of funding

29
00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,200
Speaker 2: for NT hospitals. News.

30
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,440
Speaker 3: Look, that is we know they are already under the

31
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,680
Speaker 3: pump before this news. I guess with EDS being under

32
00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,280
Speaker 3: the pump, Emerncie departments being under the pump. I mean

33
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,440
Speaker 3: we're assisting in terms of those free urgent care clinics

34
00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,639
Speaker 3: for Palmerston, and I want to get one in Darwin

35
00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,520
Speaker 3: as well, that you take a bit of pressure off

36
00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:07,760
Speaker 3: the EDS.

37
00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,480
Speaker 1: But look, look I'm very limited for time this morning,

38
00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:11,960
Speaker 1: so I just want to get to the nitty gritty

39
00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,720
Speaker 1: of this, because that fifty million dollars obviously is fantastic,

40
00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,519
Speaker 1: as you said before, and we've spoken about that previously

41
00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,320
Speaker 1: to the likes of the AMA. Look the concern here

42
00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,040
Speaker 1: that's being raised further to me. We just spoke to

43
00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,359
Speaker 1: Ken Moffatt, Territorian who had said Katie, the fact is

44
00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,560
Speaker 1: that obviously health Scope they are shutting down these different

45
00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,480
Speaker 1: services around the nation, ones that are not profitable, and

46
00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,600
Speaker 1: he said, you know, I think that we need to

47
00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,280
Speaker 1: ask the question of the Northern Territory Health Minister and

48
00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,240
Speaker 1: the Federal Health Minister if it can be guaranteed that

49
00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:52,040
Speaker 1: the Darwin Private Hospital is not going to be sold

50
00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,079
Speaker 1: or is not going to be in a situation where

51
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,000
Speaker 1: it's not profitable and not able to operate.

52
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,640
Speaker 2: The concern is that these massive health corporations are indeed

53
00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:10,560
Speaker 2: involved in negotiations around sales that are affecting the service

54
00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,440
Speaker 2: delivery to Territorians. And that's why I put that strong

55
00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,280
Speaker 2: statement out yesterday saying I was disgusted that even though

56
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,640
Speaker 2: there has been a reduction in the amount of births

57
00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,160
Speaker 2: happening at the private hospital, there's a lot of families

58
00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,320
Speaker 2: that have private health insurance because they want to have

59
00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:31,160
Speaker 2: that option of having their bubs at the private hospital.

60
00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,440
Speaker 2: So it's their responsibility, the private health insurance companies they're

61
00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,080
Speaker 2: taking the money off Territorians to provide a service. Understand

62
00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,560
Speaker 2: that initial conversations between them and the NT government are

63
00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,800
Speaker 2: sort of progressing well. But I just wanted to reassure

64
00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,480
Speaker 2: people that we stand ready to help the NT government

65
00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,200
Speaker 2: federally should they need it. We're just not sure of

66
00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,400
Speaker 2: what that request is at the moment, but we're put

67
00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,280
Speaker 2: in the extra funding and we're ready to assist when

68
00:03:58,320 --> 00:03:59,120
Speaker 2: they require it.

69
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,040
Speaker 1: Now. Look, I'm not an expert when it comes to

70
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,600
Speaker 1: health Scope. I'm not an expert when it comes to Brookfield.

71
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,720
Speaker 1: I think it is it's taken over health Scope, but

72
00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,000
Speaker 1: does there need to be some federal legislative changes when

73
00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:15,400
Speaker 1: it comes to things like the selling of private health

74
00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,880
Speaker 1: in Australia so that we don't wind up in a

75
00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,919
Speaker 1: situation like this where then if something's not as profitable

76
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,160
Speaker 1: as what the new company thinks it may be may

77
00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,000
Speaker 1: or may not be, that we wind up in these

78
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,479
Speaker 1: situations where you know, where less services are able to

79
00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,479
Speaker 1: be provided in regional parts of Australia.

80
00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,880
Speaker 2: We exactly it's a problem for regional parts of Australia

81
00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,280
Speaker 2: in particular, and we've seen other hospitals in regional parts

82
00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,159
Speaker 2: of Australia, private hospitals and regional parts of Australia closed

83
00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,159
Speaker 2: down services as well. And this is a broader issue

84
00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:50,400
Speaker 2: about market concentration in massive corporations. Then because we become

85
00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,440
Speaker 2: you know, we don't know from day to day what

86
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,400
Speaker 2: new CEO is going to come in and slash here

87
00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,520
Speaker 2: to maximize profit there. That underscores the importance of public

88
00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:05,279
Speaker 2: health and the importance of US properly funding our hospitals

89
00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,279
Speaker 2: and health services. Will continue to help NT government with that.

90
00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:16,000
Speaker 2: But to your question, Katie, we've created a Private Health

91
00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,400
Speaker 2: CEO Forum to bring together the private hospital owners and

92
00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,719
Speaker 2: the private health insurance companies so that they're a bit

93
00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,880
Speaker 2: more accountable and they can negotiate something that's fair and

94
00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:32,360
Speaker 2: reasonable for people who know Australians, Territorians who put their

95
00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,440
Speaker 2: hard earned money into private health.

96
00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,600
Speaker 1: A lot of those Territorians as well, like they're all

97
00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,840
Speaker 1: obviously hard working Territorians putting their money into private health.

98
00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,279
Speaker 1: But the point's definitely been made to me this morning

99
00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,840
Speaker 1: on a number of occasions. A lot of them are

100
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,240
Speaker 1: actually defense families that we're trying to you know, to

101
00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,839
Speaker 1: keep here in the Northern Territory. We want them stationed

102
00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,040
Speaker 1: here in the Northern Territory. For some of them, it's

103
00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:57,720
Speaker 1: going to be the tip of the iceberg where they

104
00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:59,000
Speaker 1: think why are we living here?

105
00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,880
Speaker 2: Well, it makes it less attractive, doesn't it when you've

106
00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,840
Speaker 2: got because they've got the contract at the Darwin Private

107
00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:11,240
Speaker 2: Hospital to provide these services to defense members and families.

108
00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:16,200
Speaker 2: And at the point where we're trying to increase our

109
00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,200
Speaker 2: presence in the North and we're funding that massively federally,

110
00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,080
Speaker 2: this is a kick in the guts to those Darwin

111
00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:29,280
Speaker 2: defense families and for prospective families that are looking to

112
00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,599
Speaker 2: move up here. And because our defense members are generally younger,

113
00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,599
Speaker 2: young soldiers, sailors and aviators, you know, they do go

114
00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,839
Speaker 2: through those years where they want to start a family.

115
00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,000
Speaker 2: And that's why I say we'll be doing everything we

116
00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,920
Speaker 2: can to make sure that we're not going to prop

117
00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,320
Speaker 2: up a massive company like health Scope to provide services.

118
00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,680
Speaker 2: So that they can provide services, it's up to the

119
00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,160
Speaker 2: health insurance companies to make sure services are provided. They're

120
00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,680
Speaker 2: working with the ANTI government to make sure that suitable

121
00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,360
Speaker 2: services can be required. But we will step in and

122
00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,760
Speaker 2: with a bit of a rescue package with to help

123
00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,120
Speaker 2: the NT government to ensure good services to territory families

124
00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,240
Speaker 2: so that they can have their kids here in a

125
00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,000
Speaker 2: really what additional.

126
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,280
Speaker 1: Money or additional. Are you saying that there's going to

127
00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,200
Speaker 1: be an additional that there's going to be some kind

128
00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,000
Speaker 1: of additional rescue package.

129
00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,600
Speaker 2: Well, I'm saying as we're put in additional fundings to

130
00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,800
Speaker 2: the funding fifty million to the ANTI government for their hospitals. Generally,

131
00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,560
Speaker 2: we have no ask from the NT government this stage,

132
00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:37,440
Speaker 2: but we will not allow a situation where Territorians haven't

133
00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,440
Speaker 2: got haven't got good maternity services so they can have

134
00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,200
Speaker 2: their kids here in the territory. So if there is

135
00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,560
Speaker 2: a request from the NT government, Territorians can be assured

136
00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,200
Speaker 2: that I'll be fighting to make sure that the federal government,

137
00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,960
Speaker 2: our federal government helps out.

138
00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,760
Speaker 1: Can you guarantee to our listeners that the Darwin private

139
00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,440
Speaker 1: Hospital is not going to be in a situation where

140
00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,840
Speaker 1: it's sold off or it's not able to be operational.

141
00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:10,000
Speaker 2: Well, obviously the private hospital might be sold to another

142
00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:15,920
Speaker 2: corporation because it's private. But what we will work to

143
00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,360
Speaker 2: ensure with all stakeholders, and that's why we've got this

144
00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:26,160
Speaker 2: Private Health CEO forum, is that these corporations are held accountable. Obviously,

145
00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,040
Speaker 2: Territorians will there, they'll vote with their feet in terms

146
00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,600
Speaker 2: of getting out of private health companies that aren't providing

147
00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,760
Speaker 2: the service that they said they would for the money

148
00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:41,280
Speaker 2: that territorians are giving them. But we can't stop a

149
00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,720
Speaker 2: corporation from buying a hospital or selling a hospital. But

150
00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,520
Speaker 2: this is where public health services one become very important

151
00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,880
Speaker 2: and where we're going to put accountability onto companies like

152
00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,280
Speaker 2: Healthscope to provide good services here in the territory.

153
00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,800
Speaker 1: At the moment, they're just for some just that live changed.

154
00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,880
Speaker 1: Because I get what you're saying about the forum, right,

155
00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,120
Speaker 1: but sometimes we're in a situation with these big CEOs

156
00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,880
Speaker 1: of these massive companies, and I'm not just talking about

157
00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,400
Speaker 1: the health space, but right across the board. You know,

158
00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,440
Speaker 1: we end up in a situation where you might have

159
00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,600
Speaker 1: a forum with them, but nothing changes.

160
00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:24,079
Speaker 2: Often those forums are positive, but obviously legislation is always

161
00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,880
Speaker 2: is always an option. It's not something that is preferred.

162
00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,439
Speaker 2: I mean, we live in a country in an economy

163
00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:39,160
Speaker 2: with an open market, so private health companies there's nothing

164
00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:44,600
Speaker 2: against the law about them selling their assets. What we've

165
00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:49,120
Speaker 2: found though, is greed in some of these corporations mean

166
00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,960
Speaker 2: that they'll optimize those profits. And we said sometimes in

167
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,120
Speaker 2: the age care sector as well, they'll maximize profits over

168
00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:01,480
Speaker 2: their people. Now, Territorians will, as I say, will shift

169
00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:06,400
Speaker 2: to a situation where they're getting more value for their money.

170
00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,360
Speaker 2: But we will keep the pressure and that's why we

171
00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,880
Speaker 2: use the A trible C in different sectors. We'll use

172
00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,880
Speaker 2: the A trible C in different sectors to make sure

173
00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,560
Speaker 2: there's enough competition and to make sure that Australians are

174
00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:20,960
Speaker 2: getting value for their money.

175
00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:22,839
Speaker 1: Luke, we're gonna have to leave it there. I've actually

176
00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,400
Speaker 1: got a mum who's just had a bub who's keen

177
00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:26,920
Speaker 1: to have a chat with us. Thank you so much,

178
00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:28,720
Speaker 1: thank you for hav