2017-08-07
The on-going impasse on dialysis funding between State, Territory and Federal Government needs to be resolved, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“Funding is inadequate in many areas particularly in regional and remote areas and this impasse over who is responsible for funding what is holding up timely expansion of much need dialysis support.
“Aboriginal Australians have been saying for years that they desperately need increased dialysis funding and it has been an uphill battle even to secure pockets of funding that have been delivered.
“It took literally years of pressure to get the NT and Federal Governments to commit to spend the $10m in funding committed by the Federal Government to central Australia so many years. It should never have taken so long but I am thankful that in 2015 they finally agreed to allocate the funds.
“It is heartbreaking that it has taken the passing of Dr G Yunupingu to thrust this issue into the spotlight again.
“I welcome Indigenous Affairs Minister Scullion’s acknowledgement that services are inadequate, but we need a way forward to resolve this re-occurring problem.
“I urge the Government to match the funding raised by the community in places like East Arnhem land but more broadly we need to see a significant increase so that the shortfall is closed”.
Media Release Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues