The Finocchiaro CLP Government is providing St John Ambulance with a $10m support package in the 2026 budget to help meet increasing ambulance demand.The $10m funding boost in the 2026 budget is for an immediate boost in operations, while a five-year funding agreement is finalised.The deal will provide certainty and security to both paramedics and Territorians.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is providing St John Ambulance with a $10m support package in next month's budget.
Minister for Health Steve Edgington said the $10m top-up is an additional injection of funding while the government finalises a five-year funding agreement. St John ambulance will receive $68 million in the budget.
"This money is to support and assist St John Ambulance, while they recruit more paramedics and we finalise a long-term and permanent deal.
"We're expediting negotiations with St John Ambulance-mapping demand both now and into the future so we can lock in the staff and resources Territorians need."
The Minister said the new deal will lead to an increase in resources.
Minister Edgington said negotiations were well advanced and he hoped the deal would be finalised within months.
"In our year of growth, certainty and security, the CLP Government will be providing certainty and security to not only St John Ambulance with a five-year contract but to Territorians that they will have the ambulance service the NT needs into the future.
"The last Labor Government short-changed our ambulance service-leaving St John Ambulance stuck on rolling short term deals that left St John and Territorians without certainty.
"St John Ambulance has been providing our ambulance service to Territorians for decades and the CLP Government will work to ensure Territorians can continue to trust in our ambulance service."
The additional $10 million top up is for an immediate boost in operations, with total funding in the 2026 budget of $68 million.
"In 2023 Labor funded St John $36.1 million and the CLP is almost doubling it to $68 million" Mr Edgington said.
