2021-11-23
Decisions made by successive governments have resulted in health inequality. Whether you’ve been here for 5 years, 5 generations or 5 000 generations, everyone should enjoy the same access to healthcare in this country.
COVID-19 put a spotlight on the fact that many First Nations communities need better access to health services, and the health centres they rely on need more resources to empower First Nations people to get what they need to be and stay well.
The Greens have a plan to balance the scales, so everyone can enjoy the same quality of care in this country. The Greens will:
- Provide $371m to self-determined, community-led First Nations health services to increase their capacity to care for their own communities
- Ensure people have early access to preventative programs and provide funding of $1.07b to build First Nations-owned healing places
- Expand Gold Card access to First Nations Elders aged 60 and above
- Grow the First Nations health and wellbeing workforce to provide culturally appropriate care to their communities
Making billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax, and winding back handouts to big polluters will pay for this policy.
The Greens spokesperson for First Nations: Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe said:
"For First Nations people, ‘health’ refers to the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole community and the environment, not just the physical person. By axing billions of dollars in handouts to the coal, oil and gas giants, we can heal Country and our communities.”
Lines attributable to the Australian Greens spokesperson for Health, Senator Jordon Steele-John:
"For too long, First Nations communities have been blocked from accessing the services and resources they need to be healthy. The Australian Greens are committed to taking urgent, holistic action to improve the wellbeing of First Nations People across the country. Our funding announcement today will support the First Nations Health Workforce, boost the resourcing of community-led services including health promotion programs, access to vaccines and culturally safe mental health care.
“The next election will be closer than people think. Scott Morrison is only 828 votes away from losing majority government and on current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome.
“In balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next government to make billionaire corporations pay their fair share of tax so everyone can enjoy the same quality of healthcare in this country.”