Saturday 25 August 2012

In the lead up to the NT General Election, SPA members, community groups and the public have looked to us for leadership and advocacy in relation to the significant shortfalls in NT public speech pathology services.

The below information summaries the formal responses we have received from from the three major parties in this campaign.

It is however clear in our interactions with these parties that the ALP NT have been the only group to welcome feedback from SPA, and make a commitment to collaborate with us, if elected, to improve the state of public speech pathology in the NT. While I understand that the promise of "another review" appears tiresome, it is a positive commitment.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this campaign and we hope that our efforts have set speech pathology services and the needs of people with communication and swallowing difficulties firmly on the political agenda.

Thalia Thavaseelan
NT Branch President

Leader: Paul Henderson

Click here to see the official ALP response

Key points:

• Provisional commitment to a Territory wide review of speech pathology services to be conducted by an independent speech pathologist.
• Outlined increased services to Darwin’s Children’s Development, recruitment and retention strategies to keep speech pathologist in the NT and commitment to the NDIS.

Local ALP MPs and candidates who committed to raising speech pathology services with their leaders:

• Alan James, candidate for Port Darwin 
• Paul Henderson, sitting MP for Wanguri
• Kon Vatskalis, sitting MP for Casuarina

Leader: Terry Mills

Click here to see official CLP response

Key points:

• Unable to commit any extra funding directly to speech pathology services due to “irresponsible fiscal management by the current Labor government”.
• Commitment to working with speech pathologists in both the public and private sector to formulate a plan to deliver better services within existing resources.

Local CLP MPs and candidates who committed to raising speech pathology services with their leaders:

• John Elferink, sitting MP for Port Darwin
• Rhianna Harker, candidate for Wanguri
• Lia Fiocchinaro, candidate for Drysdale

Convenor: Simon Niblock

Response:        Due to time restrictions, the Greens were unable to meet with representatives of SPA.  The NT branch of the Greens also does not have specific health policy.

Thank you to everybody who has participated in this campaign and we wish you all the best for polling day tomorrow.

Useful documents
 
For Members Document

For the Public Document

On behalf of members, SPAcontacted the leaders of the ALP,CLP and Greens regarding speech pathology services in the NT and attended a meeting with the ALP. Below are the letters sent to each party leader, outlining what would improve speech pathology services in the NT.

The Hon Paul Henderson - ALP

The Hon Terry Mills- CLP

Mr Owen Gale - Greens

Thank you for your efforts during this campaign. Good luck and we look forward to letting you know the results.

NT Branch