Anthony Albanese and Labor are building the Northern Territory's future, today unveiling Labor's Health and Aged Care Plan for the Territory.
The new plan will deliver a record amount of new health and aged care funding for the Territory.
We will invest up to $60 million through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program to support the construction of a new residential care home in Darwin, delivering no less than 120 new residential care beds. Darwin has the lowest number of aged care beds in the country. This funding will directly address critical supply shortages.
In addition, a re-elected Albanese Government is committed to:
- Delivering $10.1 million to CareFlight to purchase a plane to support medical evacuations and transportation in the Top End. Patients in very remote NT do not have reliable access to timely emergency medical retrieval services, especially during the wet season. This plane would provide emergency retrievals and care for up to 700 patients a year;
- Delivering an upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centre in Alice Springs, a headspace Plus and a Youth Specialist Care Centre in Darwin.
This is on top of what the Albanese Labor Government is already delivering in health;
- Delivering $560 million, a 30 percent increase, in hospital funding for the Northern Territory next year – the largest increase of any jurisdiction;
- Delivered eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the NT that have already had more than 50,000 visits; Ali Curung; Alyangula; Galiwinku; Lajamanu; Maningrida; Mparntwe; Palmerston
and Wurrumiyanga. We will deliver a ninth urgent care clinic in Darwin;
- Making the largest investment in Medicare since its creation 41 years ago, so more Australians can see a doctor for free. This will mean an additional 170,000 free GP visits for NT residents and boost the number of bulk billing clinics to more than 80;
- Make cheaper medicines even cheaper, with a PBS script to cost no more than $25 next year – providing important cost of living relief on top of the $6 million that the Northen Territory has already saved from cheaper medicines.
This investment in health and aged care is in stark contrast to Peter Dutton, who was voted the worst Health Minister in Medicare history by Australia's doctors, after he cut $50 billion from public hospitals and tried to end bulk billing with a fee for every GP visit.
The decision to allocate $60 million towards a new Darwin residential aged care home from the Aged Care Capital Assistance program was made prior to the Caretaker Period. CareFlight and mental health services are election commitments.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"Labor is building the Northern Territory's future.
"We have already allocated a record $560 million towards hospitals in the Northern Territory and today our new health and aged care plan will build on this record investment.
"If re-elected, we will purchase a new plane for CareFlight and build a new aged care facility in Darwin."
Quotes attributable to Health Minster Mark Butler:
"Territorians know only an Albanese Labor Government will continue to strengthen Medicare.
"Labor has delivered eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics for the Territory, cheaper medicines and we've delivered the largest hospital funding increase in the country for Territory hospitals.
"When Peter Dutton was Health Minister he cut almost $600 million from NT hospitals and he doesn't back our extra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic for Darwin."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, and Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy:
"This funding for a new residential care home in Darwin means older Territorians will be able to better access aged care services in their community.
"Our Elders play an important role in our communities and it's essential they receive the best care and support.
"This is another example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering for Territorians, with record new health and aged care funding across the NT."
Quotes attributable to Aged Care Minister Anika Wells:
"The Albanese Labor Government is committed to ensuring all older Australians have access to safe, high quality, health and aged care services in Darwin.
"Darwin needs more aged care beds and this funding will help older Territorians better access services in the community they know and love while reducing the number of older patients in local hospitals.
"We will make a $60 million investment in partnership with an aged care provider to support the delivery of a brand new, 120-bed, quality residential care home for the Darwin region."
Quotes attributable to Member for Solomon Luke Gosling:
"The investment for aged care in the Territory is a welcome one, we've already delivered for Territorians in the past, and this builds on that.
"The Albanese Labor Government strengthening healthcare across the entire life of a Territorian, whether it be free vaccines for mums and bubs, more bulk billing for all Territorians, or a strong aged care system for older Territorians.
"These are welcome investments that I know Territorians will benefit from – no matter where you live."
Quotes attributable to Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory CEO Dr John Paterson:
"The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) welcomes the Albanese Government's Health and Aged Care Plan for the Territory.
"The record investment in health and aged care presents a significant opportunity for meaningful progress. It demonstrates a genuine willingness to act—particularly in critical areas such as aged care and youth mental health, which are vital to improving long-term outcomes for Territorians.
"The Urgent Care Clinics are easing pressure on hospitals, reducing medivac arrangements, and strengthening the capacity of overstretched primary care services. The more care we can provide within local communities, the better the outcomes. Initiatives like these support culturally safe, community-based care that keeps people closer to home and their families.
"We commend the Albanese Government for its commitment to health in the Northern Territory."
