2026-04-02
Today, Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens, Jo Clay has called on all members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to stand with workers and community members fighting to save the Yerrabi Yurwang Northside Health Service, which is pausing operations this morning after the ACT Government refused to provide funding for the service.
Lines attributable to Jo Clay, Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens:
“Canberra is often painted as one of the wealthiest cities in the country, but that’s only half the story. This city is a tale of two stories, and right now the gap between them is growing, leaving entire communities in the dust.
“For First Nations people on the northside, that inequality is stark.
“It is unacceptable that access to culturally appropriate health services depends on what side of town you live. Just 17% of First Nations people on the northside are accessing health services, compared to 20-29% in the south.
“The team at Yerrabi Yurwang have been doing incredible work under impossible pressure. Last year, the Greens stood with them and the community, backing their call for proper investment. The need has only grown since then.
“Instead of stepping up, the government has walked away. Today, that decision means a vital, community-led health service is shutting its doors, right in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, when people need support more than ever.
“This closure will force people to travel long distances, by car or unreliable public transport, just to access culturally-appropriate healthcare. For many, that means going without.
“This is a political choice from the Labor Government and it’s the wrong one. The Greens are calling on the government to immediately restore funding to Yerrabi Yurwang and work with the community to secure a long-term future for this essential service.
“If the Labor Party is serious about Closing the Gap, backing self-determination, and delivering real health outcomes for First Nations people, then it needs to stop talking and start funding, by stepping up for the Yerrabi Yurwang Northside Health Service."
The ACT Greens will be attending the rally to save Yerrabi Yurwang Health Service and are calling on members of the public as well as members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to join in showing their support for aboriginal-controlled health services.