Northern Territory Oncology Unit Funding Questions

It's time Dave Tollner let Territorians know exactly what he has asked for from the Federal Government for the Territory Oncology Unit Senator Trish Crossin says.

"Estimates for a Territory Oncology Unit range around $50 million for the first five years” Senator Crossin said.

"Dave Tollner has been grandstanding on the issue and linking it to a radioactive waste dump for some time but we still do not know what funding he reportedly fought 'tooth and nail' for” Senator Crossin said.

"Token funding from the Commonwealth will just be a slap in the face for Dave Tollner and Territorians.

"Substantial funding is required when you consider the unit needs capital funding of around $20 million as well as recurrent staff costs of at least $3 million per year to include two radiation oncologists, 16 radiation therapists, three to four medical physicists, technicians, nurses and administrative staff.

"In addition there are accommodation and travel costs for patients coming to Darwin.

"The Territory Oncology Unit has the potential to service patients across northern Australia from Weipa to Kununurra so a significant commonwealth injection of funds would be appropriate” Senator Crossin said.

After putting an Oncology Unit at the top of his priorities for this year on 4 February, Dave Tollner said, "Make no mistake, we will be taking these issues and more to Canberra and I will 'fight tooth and nail' to see they are delivered”.

Three weeks later in a media release he said "Territorians can now be more confident that the Federal Government will provide funding towards an oncology unit at Royal Darwin Hospital following discussions between David Tollner and Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott late last week”.

He added that Tony Abbott's "department has been doing an enormous amount of work over the past four months assessing the feasibility of such a unit in the Northern Territory”.

Senator Crossin said, "Dave Tollner should now be able to tell us what he bid for and what the department's recommendation to the minister was”.

2006-05-04