APY LANDS, RENAL DIALYSIS UNITS

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:01): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation questions about remote renal dialysis units.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: Yesterday, Jonathan Nicholls of the Paper Tracker disclosed on radio that the commonwealth had allocated $13 million for what was termed 'family-centric renal accommodation' for those coming in from remote areas to Alice Springs, which would cover those coming from the APY lands. The commonwealth has blamed the state government for delay and has since returned the funding to Treasury.

Given that health is a state responsibility, it is up to the state government to ensure APY lands residents do not miss out on a vital service due to its incompetence and indifference. My question is: will the minister ensure that our residents in the APY lands are not deprived of renal dialysis units and ensure that commonwealth funding is utilised?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and his ongoing interest in these matters. This is clearly, directly, a portfolio responsibility for the Minister for Health and Ageing in another place, but given the honourable member's concerns and interests, I will make a few statements around the subject.

Members may be aware that, in 2011, the Central Australia Renal Study was released by the Australian government. That study, I am advised, recommended a hub and spoke model of service delivery for dialysis patients from central Australia with Alice Springs as the hub. Members may also be aware that the Northern Territory government has decided not to progress the development of an accommodation centre for renal dialysis patients in Alice Springs as they are unable to meet the ongoing operational costs of that centre.

I am advised there are currently an estimated 12 people from the APY lands receiving dialysis in Alice Springs. There are a further nine people from the APY lands receiving dialysis in this state.

The decision made by the Northern Territory government is not to progress the accommodation centre—I think that is most unfortunate—but I am advised it will not impact the 12 patients currently receiving dialysis services in Alice Springs. I am also advised that the Northern Territory government has consequently handed back the $13 million that was provided to them for this purpose to the Australian government.

The renal dialysis service in Alice Springs is continuing to treat patients from South Australia with around 12 people from the APY lands currently dialysing in Alice Springs. I understand that SA Health currently provides payment for South Australian residents treated in the Northern Territory in line with agreed cross-border agreements. The Central Australia Renal Study also recommended the commencement of respite renal dialysis visits to the APY lands.

I am informed that SA Health has committed to the provision of these services and has been using the Northern Territory mobile dialysis truck to provide visits to the APY lands and northern South Australia. I am further advised that SA Health has been provided with funding by the Australian government to purchase its own truck, and procurement processes are currently underway.