[Greens-Media] Funding dispute continues to block essential dialysis services

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

7 June 2013

Funding dispute continues to block essential dialysis services

The Australian Greens said today it was a tragedy that funding disputes between state, territory and federal governments mean people are missing out on critical dialysis support.

"The reality is that Aboriginal people in the NT and in remote areas of central Australia are missing out on dialysis and their lives are being shortened while this political impasse continues. That isn't hyperbole - it is the reality," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health said today.

"In Senate Estimates today, the Department of Health confirmed that the NT Government were refusing to contribute funding to the dialysis projects that the Commonwealth has already committed resources to. These include accommodation and some community dialysis projects.

"This means any Federal funding that requires an element of contribution from the NT will not go ahead. The Commonwealth won't fund these projects without Territory or State contributions.

"We now have a situation where the Federal Government have money on the table, ready to be spent on infrastructure areas such as accommodation and dialysis chairs and Territory and State Governments who are unwilling to fund the staff or support needed to actually provide these services on the ground.

"This is also the case in WA, where the Federal Government have approached the WA Government to help fund some dialysis projects, but the State Government appears unwilling to contribute.

"In the meantime much need dialysis support isn't being delivered. This is totally unacceptable.

"It is an incredibly frustrating situation and I cannot imagine how it feels for communities and organisations who are seeing the effects of this every single day.

"We constantly hear promises of funding and investment, only to have them disappear as a result of disputes such as this, and all the while, the health outcomes for people with end-stage kidney disease get worse and worse.

Australian Governments have committed to Close the Gap, we will not achieve this aim for communities in Central Australia until we address this appalling situation.

"The Greens will continue to pursue this issue and to support the communities and organisations who need these services so urgently," Senator Siewert concluded.