Latest news with #RoyalDarwinHospital
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Woman dies at Darwin hospital after alleged domestic violence attack in Palmerston
A 22-year-old woman has died at Royal Darwin Hospital 10 days after an alleged domestic violence attack. NT Police released a statement on Saturday evening confirming the woman had died, after she was allegedly assaulted at a home in Johnston, in Darwin's satellite city of Palmerston. The police spokesperson said the cause of death remained unknown and the Major Crime Unit was continuing to investigate the "alleged domestic violence incident". Police attended the Palmerston home on the evening of May 21, after neighbours said they heard a "disturbance" and called triple zero. "About 8pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that an incident was unfolding at a residential address, with a male assaulting a female known to him," a police spokesperson said. "Neighbours … rendered assistance and provided first aid prior to St John Ambulance and police attending." Paramedics took the woman to the Royal Darwin Hospital in a critical condition at the time. Police said the alleged offender, a 22-year-old man, was arrested after officers arrived and held at the Palmerston watch house. He was later charged with aggravated assault and appeared in Darwin Local Court on May 26.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
The NT's only private maternity ward is about to shut. Here's what we know about the new care options
The Northern Territory health minister has released the details of a replacement service for expectant Top End parents seeking private maternity healthcare. It comes after Darwin Private Hospital operator Healthscope announced it would be closing the facility's birthing ward from June 6, a move that will leave expectant parents with no other option but to give birth at the public Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH). The NT government previously flagged plans to offer two new options for private postnatal care for affected families — a "luxury retreat" at a "boutique" Darwin hotel and an at-home service. With more details now released, here's what we know about the new care options. Private maternity patients will first give birth at RDH before receiving postnatal care at a hotel or in their own home. The Mercure Darwin Airport Resort has been announced as the Darwin hotel that will provide expectant parents with a private postnatal stay option from June 1. NT Health Minister Steve Edgington says private maternity patients will be reserved a "deluxe king suite" room, where they will be able to stay for up to four nights post-birth and receive postnatal care by visiting RDH midwives. The midwives will assist patients with wounds, postnatal assessments, feeding, baby weighing and general newborn care. Mr Edgington says NT Health eventually hopes to secure a private midwifery provider to take over this service from RDH midwives. NT Health general manager of corporate strategy and performance, Alison Jeanne, says there will be a "ring-fence" around rooms reserved for postnatal care to ensure they remain available for eligible patients. Private patients who face complications during or after birth will need to remain at RDH until it's safe for them to be discharged. The "return home sooner package" is the alternative postnatal care option available to private maternity patients as of June 1. The government says this service will allow parents and their newborn to receive support in their own home, after being discharged from hospital. Support provided for families will include meal preparation and cleaning, and the same midwifery support offered to those who choose the hotel option. The government has not specified how many days after birth this service will be provided for. The NT government is promising all patients with private health insurance covering pregnancy and birth hospital care will have access to the private postnatal packages. 'I have been advised by NT Health that all insurers have agreed to support care options for women and families post-birth,' Mr Edgington said on Thursday. He also said NT Health had been in regular discussions with major insurers Medibank, Bupa and the Australian Health Service Alliance, which "represent around 93 per cent of the women affected". The government says all of the private services provided will not be "costing taxpayers anything" because all costs will be covered by private health insurers. NT Health-led information sessions will be held next week at the Mercure Darwin Airport Resort, for expectant families to view the accommodation and discuss their care with RDH specialist staff. NT Health says small group and one-on-one sessions will be made available to families the week starting May 26, so they can discuss with staff "the services, models of care and discharge support, as well as what to expect during birth, staying in the hospital and postnatal care". At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Edgington said he had written to the federal Health Minister, Mark Butler, requesting $35 million to help the NT government make "some modifications" to RDH's maternity ward. The Tasmanian government in February successfully secured $6 million from the Commonwealth to expand maternity services in Hobart hospitals, after Healthscope also announced the closure of its birthing ward there. Mr Edgington flip-flopped on whether RDH could manage the extra patients from the private system long-term, saying at first the government had requested the $35 million because it was looking at how to "cope with the additional 250 births per year". He later said: "We've made it very clear that 250 additional births can be consumed within the current arrangements at the Royal Darwin Hospital".
ABC News
13-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
The winners and losers of the 2025-26 NT budget, from prisons to roads and health
With net debt to surpass $12 billion this financial year, the Northern Territory government's 2025-26 budget is headlined by record funding for corrections but little for new infrastructure projects. Here are the winners and losers of the Country Liberal Party government's first budget. A graphic depicting a stethoscope for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) The Northern Territory is home to some of the sickest patients in the country, with Aboriginal Territorians battling higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health issues than non-Indigenous Australians. This year's budget includes more money for the health department to deliver critical services, largely due to a 30 per cent increase in Commonwealth funding. The health spend includes: $2.3 billion for health services across the territory, including a $100 million boost next financial year $2.3 billion for health services across the territory, including a $100 million boost next financial year A $25.3 million increase for primary health care, bringing the total spend to $313.4 million A $25.3 million increase for primary health care, bringing the total spend to $313.4 million An extra $17.1 million for mental health, mainly to support a new mental health ward at Royal Darwin Hospital Neutral: Police A graphic depicting a police officer's hat for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) Funding for the Northern Territory Police Force has been billed as a key item in this year's budget, the first from a Country Liberal Party government promising to be tough on crime. While it does see record spends on resources, the NT Police Association has criticised the government's decision to cap a wage increase at 3 per cent. The budget includes: A $37.3 million annual increase to policing services, bringing the force's total budget to $557.9 million A $37.3 million annual increase to policing services, bringing the force's total budget to $557.9 million More funding for initiatives to prevent family violence and to meet commitments from a recent resources review More funding for initiatives to prevent family violence and to meet commitments from a recent resources review About $7 million to upgrade the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre Winner: Corrections A graphic depicting a person entering jail for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) In a budget headlined by big ticket spends on community safety, the NT's Corrections Department has been plumped out with a record funding haul. The budget allocates: A $60 million increase for Corrections, bringing the department's total budget to a record $495 million A $60 million increase for Corrections, bringing the department's total budget to a record $495 million $176 million for operational costs to deal with rising prisoner numbers $176 million for operational costs to deal with rising prisoner numbers $69.6 million for an infrastructure master plan, which includes new and refurbished prisons Winner: Education A graphic depicting a school bag for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) The Northern Territory has the lowest numeracy and literacy rates in Australia. It also has the lowest school attendance rates, with the government attempting to reverse that through the introduction of truancy officers. Last year, the Commonwealth and former Labor NT government signed a joint agreement that will see an extra $1 billion by 2029 for the territory's education system. Those extra funds are reflected in this year's budget, which includes: An additional $35 million for government primary schools, and $18 million more for secondary schools An additional $35 million for government primary schools, and $18 million more for secondary schools An extra $10 million for non-government schools An extra $10 million for non-government schools Almost $1.9 million in extra funding for more school counsellors Neutral: Cost of living A graphic depicting a grocery shopping bag for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) Like people around the country, Territorians have been feeling cost-of-living stress over recent years. While interest rates are expected to drop further this year, the NT government has pulled a few strings to ease hip-pocket pressures on households. These measures include: An extra $50 million to keep electricity price increases below 3 per cent this year for most customers An extra $50 million to keep electricity price increases below 3 per cent this year for most customers No fee increases for vehicle registrations until July 2026 No fee increases for vehicle registrations until July 2026 Early childhood education subsidies of up to $1,560 per child Neutral: Domestic violence A graphic depicting a three hands raised with a white ribbon for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) The NT has the highest rates of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) in Australia, with the rate of intimate partner homicide seven times the national average. At first glance, the budget's $16 million for DFSV funding this year and $36 million in 2026-27 appears as a win for the sector, but the devil is in the detail. The funding is spread across various departments, and it ignores an action plan prepared by experts working in the sector. The DFSV spend includes: $6.6 million for the Circuit Breaker youth diversion program $6.6 million for the Circuit Breaker youth diversion program $4.2 million for prison programs aimed at preventing DFSV $4.2 million for prison programs aimed at preventing DFSV $18 million over five years to continue men's behaviour change programs in Darwin, Wadeye, Alice Springs and Katherine $18 million over five years to continue men's behaviour change programs in Darwin, Wadeye, Alice Springs and Katherine $2 million over five years to establish remote women's safe houses Loser: Environment A graphic depicting some leaves sprouting out of the Earth for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) Despite Territorians' love of camping and fishing, there's not much in the budget aimed at protecting the natural environment. The NT Environment Protection Authority, which is tasked with assessing potential environmental impacts of economic projects, was allocated about $940,000 — an increase of just $13,000 on last year's budget. Winner: Housing A graphic depicting a house next to a tree for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) With the territory's homelessness rate 12 times the national average, money desperately needs to be spent on housing. Houses in the NT's remote communities are severely overcrowded, forcing many people to move to urban centres. This year's budget will go some way to addressing the problem, largely with Commonwealth money. It includes: $615 million for housing in remote communities $615 million for housing in remote communities $150 million mostly for remote homelands and affordable housing projects $150 million mostly for remote homelands and affordable housing projects Almost $50 million for infrastructure to support the development of Holtze, a proposed outer Darwin suburb Almost $50 million for infrastructure to support the development of Holtze, a proposed outer Darwin suburb $11 million for land development and community facilities in the Alice Springs suburb of Kilgariff Loser: Roads & Infrastructure A graphic depicting a road to a city for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) The new budget includes a record $4.34 billion infrastructure spend, although that is largely due to a huge windfall in annual infrastructure funding from the Commonwealth and a cost blow-out on the Darwin Ship Lift. There are no new big ticket infrastructure projects promised by the new government. $305 million for the Darwin Ship Lift project, on top of $515 million already pledged $305 million for the Darwin Ship Lift project, on top of $515 million already pledged About $2 billion for roads, aerodromes and jetties Winner: Mining & Industry Mining & industry NT logo ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) The NT government is hoping critical minerals and gas exports from the Beetaloo Basin will help grow the economy in coming years. The budget includes: $181.3 million for regional roads supporting the gas industry $181.3 million for regional roads supporting the gas industry $1.1 million for the development of the Beetaloo Basin $1.1 million for the development of the Beetaloo Basin $6.4 million to support the new Territory Coordinator role, whose job is to cut regulatory red tape to accelerate economic projects Santos's $5.6 billion offshore Barossa gas project will not contribute any royalties or taxes directly to the NT, but it will support some local jobs while it exports LNG from Darwin. Loser: Tourism A graphic depicting a person reading a map under a street sign for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) The Department of Tourism and Hospitality has seen an overall loss to its annual budget, in spite of a new $8 million funding commitment billed as a "tourism base budget rebuild". Annual funding for tourism, events and screen production will be cut to $88 million, from $92 million the previous year. The government says this is due to "the conclusion of time-limited tourism funding". Indigenous tourism projects will also lose out with a total $2.2 million — $400,000 less than last year's budget. Neutral: Arts & Recreation A graphic depicting arts and recreation for the 2024 NT budget. Produced by ABC graphics designer Randi Dahnial on Maay 10, 2024 ( ABC News: Randi Dahnial ) Alice Springs will continue to receive funding for major new arts and recreation infrastructure projects that were promised under the previous Labor government. Treasurer Bill Yan hails from Central Australia, and says he wants to ensure the region gets its fair share. However it remains to be seen when a major art gallery in Alice Springs will actually be built. The arts and recreation spend includes: $168.7 million for Alice Springs infrastructure projects including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, a multi-sports precinct in Gillen, repairs to Anzac Oval and an upgraded visitor information centre $168.7 million for Alice Springs infrastructure projects including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, a multi-sports precinct in Gillen, repairs to Anzac Oval and an upgraded visitor information centre $52.4 million for the new Northern Territory Art Gallery in Darwin's State Square, which is due to open in 2026 $52.4 million for the new Northern Territory Art Gallery in Darwin's State Square, which is due to open in 2026 $4 million for art gallery expansions across Arnhem Land Posted 16m ago 16 minutes ago Tue 13 May 2025 at 5:57am , updated 14m ago 14 minutes ago Tue 13 May 2025 at 5:59am
7NEWS
12-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Woman charged with murder after man dies in alleged domestic violence assault in WA town of Wyndham
A murder charge has been laid after a man died following an alleged altercation with a woman. The 28-year-old was found with serious injuries on Koolama Street in the remote Western Australian town of Wyndham at about 11.55pm on Friday. Police allege a 26-year-old woman at the scene assaulted the man just minutes before officers arrived. The incident is believed to be family violence-related. The man was rushed to Kununurra Hospital before being flown to Royal Darwin Hospital in the Northern Territory, where he was later declared dead. The woman was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder and breaching protective bail conditions following further investigations. She is due to appear in Kununurra Magistrates Court on Monday.
ABC News
11-05-2025
- ABC News
Man dies after altercation in Wyndham in WA's Kimberley region
Police are investigating the death of a man in a remote Western Australia town after an alleged altercation with a woman. A WA Police spokesperson said the man in his 20s was injured during an altercation with a woman he knew in Wyndham, about 3,000 kilometres north of Perth. He was flown to Royal Darwin Hospital where he later died. The incident happened in the remote Kimberley town on Friday. The spokesperson said a woman, in her 20s, was assisting police with inquiries.
