ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: I am so proud to be here today in Berry Springs for the official opening of the new Perinatal Mental Health Centre. Becoming a new parent is an exciting time, but for many parents, it comes with challenges. We know that in Australia today, 1 in 5 expectant or new mums or 1 in 10 expectant or new dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety or other mental health challenges at this time, which is why I'm proud to be part of an Albanese Labor Government that is investing close to $40 million nationally to open 20 Perinatal Mental Health Centres working alongside Gidget House, experts in perinatal mental health care.
This investment will mean 20 centres opening across the country, one right here in Berry Springs, the ninth to be nationally and the first in the Northern Territory. But there will be more to come. We know that this centre will support close to 700 parents locally and the big difference that it makes to both parents and children to be able to get that support in that critical perinatal period. I'm so proud to be part of this more than $1.1 billion investment in mental health and wellbeing across the country with a big focus in the NT and the Top End.
I might now hand over to the local member, Dheran Young, to talk about what this will mean for people in your local community.
DHERAN YOUNG, MEMBER FOR DALY: Thank you. Dheran Young, Member for Daly. Today is a very exciting day to see the new perinatal mental healthcare open here in Berry Springs. We know we've always had challenges in the rural area when it comes to primary healthcare, but this is just going to add another service that the Remote Territory Healthcare team will provide for mothers and fathers that are expecting kids.
One thing that shocked me was that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men actually experience anxiety and depression when they're expecting to have a kid. So, this service is much needed here in the rural area. And as we've said earlier, there'll be over 700 people that will have access to this service. So, it's an exciting time for the rural area. But also, I want to thank the Minister for coming up and also the Albanese Government for providing this service here in Berry Springs.
CHANSEY PAECH, NT SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH: Chansey Paech, Shadow Northern Territory Health Minister. Today is a wonderful day across the Northern Territory, with the first of this type of facility opening up. It is incredibly important for young mums and dads and families that this service is here. And it's a clear demonstration of the Albanese Government's commitment to the Northern Territory and to delivering this service to all territories. We know that regional and remote healthcare is often a challenge, and it's great to see the Albanese backing in regional and remote Territorians with this significant investment, one of many. We're very excited and we're very happy to see that investment rolling out across the territory today.
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] Emma McBride, how much money has the federal government contributed to this service here?
MCBRIDE: So, the Commonwealth has invested more than $200 million in perinatal mental health services. This investment in Gidget Houses across the country is close to $40 million for the 20 services, so a significant investment locally. And also, additional support, acknowledging that recruiting and retaining expert mental health workers in the regions does have its challenges. So additional support to make sure that we have the expert mental health clinicians who are really experiencing perinatal care right here.
I want to thank the Remote Territory Health Service for their strong collaboration. It's those kind of partnerships that make these services so effective in reaching people who most need that support. So, someone will see their GP to have a mental healthcare plan and then receive sessions, expert sessions of support for free backed by Medicare.
JOURNALIST: The Territory still has the highest suicide rate in Australia. What's the federal government doing to really lower that and make sure that gaps in services are being closed here?
MCBRIDE: Any life lost by suicide is a tragedy. We know that in Australia today, n9 people die by suicide each day and 150 Australians attempt to take their own life. We know that there is a larger impact in remote communities, including in the Northern Territory, which is why we've made a more than $1.1 billion investment in mental health and wellbeing to make sure that all Australians can get the support and care they need closer to home. We have our first National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. We're going to negotiations in the near future for the next agreement, and that'll have a strong bilateral agreement with the Territory Government to make sure that the right investment is made in the services that have the biggest impact in reducing distress and providing more support for local Territorians.
JOURNALIST: Emma, as you [indistinct] we've got 2 hospitals that are going to Code Yellow this morning. Are you concerned that the Territory has a wider health issue?
MCBRIDE: As the Assistant Minister responsible for rural and regional health, it is one of my top priorities to make sure that all Australians living outside our major cities get the support and care that they deserve. In the recent National Health and Hospital Reform Agreement, the Territory will now be $741 million better off over the next 5 years. There's also, in the coming weeks, just within 3 weeks until the new financial year, an extra $67 million flowing through to Territory Health to make sure that there is that strong investment that flows through to NT Health that they can direct towards the services and support that local people need and deserve.
JOURNALIST: We have a major problem with bed blocking in our hospitals because of delays in the provision of aged care packages and also in building new places in aged care facilities. Why is the government not coming forth with those packages that are really causing a crisis in our hospitals with bed blocking?
MCBRIDE: In Australia today we have a growing population of older people who need quality care and support. Having worked in a regional hospital myself I've seen the pressures on regional hospitals because of older people requiring home care packages and support, which is why our government has delivered historic reforms in aged care to introduce a once-in-a-generation change, which will mean better support and more aged care for people closer to home. I appreciate that in places like the NT there are pressures and demands, and Minister Sam Rae is working very closely with the Northern Territory Government and with NT aged care services to make sure that that support is available sooner and when people need it.
JOURNALIST: You've delayed the release of the money for those packages until October. I mean, for the Territory particularly when we only have a couple of hospitals and they're continually in Code Yellows because we can't get those older people out of beds that are needed for critical acute care, isn't it a case that we need that money now?
MCBRIDE: I know that local people would like to see that money flow as quickly as possible and that's what we're working to do, led by Aged Care Minister Sam Rae, to make sure that all Australians, wherever they live, but particularly in the more regional and remote parts of Australia, get that quality care that they need as soon as they can.
JOURNALIST: NDIS providers in the Territory are worried that they will be having to cut services to vulnerable people on the NDIS. Are you sure that you've really targeted your cuts to the correct areas so far?
MCBRIDE: I know from talking to NDIS participants across the country and in my own community the real difference that NDIS support makes to individuals and families. What that investment has made to many people is life changing, giving them choice and control. What we want to make sure is that the NDIS is sustainable for the future so that everybody can get the support that they need ongoing. We're making sure that we're cutting out – we're cracking down on rorts. I know that everyone is distressed when they see rorts occurring and funding then not going to people who most need it. We're focused on making sure that the NDIS is sustainable for the future to make sure that all Australians, wherever they live, can get the support now and ongoing.
JOURNALIST: You're cutting some big line items out in terms of social supports and the autistic children, but do you actually – are you putting the infrastructure in place to actually cut out the rorting wholesale of the program, because if you don't have regulators going through looking at providers who at the moment aren't even registered, if you don't have the people doing the regulation, how can you cut out the rorts?
MCBRIDE: The Minister for NDIS Senator Jenny McAllister, has been working determinedly to cut out the rorts, introducing legislation through the parliament and making sure that the regulators have the teeth they need to be able to crack down on rorts because we want to make sure that every cent in the NDIS goes to the NDIS participants and people that need it most.
JOURNALIST: Last one from me. Both men on your sides here, their electorate is obviously very rural, and a lot of people have to travel big distances. Sometimes they have to fly to get treatment that's pretty basic. Going into the future, what is the Albanese Government going to be doing to try and alleviate those pressures for these people?
MCBRIDE: It is so important that every Australian, wherever they live, gets the support and care that they need. Whether that's perinatal mental health services like we've opened today, or urgent care clinics that I visited in Darwin and Palmerston yesterday. And also tomorrow I'll be in Katherine visiting the headspace. So, we want to make sure that this investment reaches the people that need it the most, close to home. And that's why I'm so proud to be part of a government that is opening the first perinatal mental health centre right here in Berry Springs.
JOURNALST: Could I ask Chansey Paech a couple of questions? Chansey, we’ve had basically a financial collapse of the Nathan River resources, including owing traditional owners over $2 million in royalties and the NT Government over $7 million in royalties and unpaid payroll tax. Shouldn't the NT Government have taken action to put this mine into administration before it got itself into such a big debt hole to so many traditional owners, local workers and local contractors?
PAECH: Look, we are definitely concerned that the mine continues to operate when it owes so much money to traditional owners and also to small businesses. We're hearing small businesses across the Northern Territory owed hundreds of thousands of dollars and essentially their operation could potentially come to an end because of the money owed. So, we're really encouraging the Northern Territory Government to come forward, to come clean and talk about what the ongoing plan and management of this infrastructure and this mining project is.
JOURNALIST: The Territory Government has legal obligations to make sure all mining companies are a fit and proper person, which means they're properly capitalised to meet all their financial and environmental and safety liabilities. Do you think the Territory Government has really taken its hands off the wheel here and just not bothered to make sure that this company is a fit and proper person and can meet all its liabilities?
PAECH: Look, what we're hearing from across the Territory is that people are losing confidence and trust in the CLP when it comes to reporting on important environmental impacts across the Territory, mining opportunities and projects and that level of accountability. So, we are before parliamentary estimates at the moment. Certainly, our job as the Opposition is to ask those questions to the Mining Minister to get the answers that the community deserve and need, and certainly we'll continue to hold the government to account.
JOURNALIST: I've just got one on the estimates. So, you gents have been sitting in parliament lately. It’s been raised by an independent member that the Chief Minister’s conduct has been a little bit curly. How have you found her behaviour and estimates so far?
PAECH: Look, I think estimates is certainly an important time, not just for members of parliament but for the community and organisations to really understand the expenditure of government and what is going on. Like anything, it does tend to get hot in estimates and there is a bit of commentary and frivolous behaviour, but it is an important opportunity to remind everyone that we are there to serve the community, not serve ourselves, and not drive our own agendas. So, look, we need to make sure that we're doing it in the best interests of all Territorians and some people do need to check their behaviour.