Sixteen health groups have urged Anthony Albanese to redirect $1.5 billion from an industrial hub to new NT health infrastructure.
It comes after the NT opposition promised a new Royal Darwin Hospital if elected in 2028.
An independent politician has slammed the pledge and called for greater focus on regional health infrastructure.
A coalition of health groups has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to redirect $1.5 billion set for a new Darwin industrial hub to instead build new hospitals in the Northern Territory.
In an open letter, 16 organisations — including the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the Australian College of Nursing — have called on Mr Albanese to cancel a Commonwealth budget pledge to fund the controversial Middle Arm precinct.
"We urge the federal government to … redirect these funds into NT healthcare, prioritising a high-quality tertiary hospital for Darwin, improved health facilities for the regions and health promotion," they wrote.
"The health industry is one of the largest employers in the NT and is worth investing in, not only to boost employment, but to improve the quality of healthcare and the lives of local people.
"We are calling for the government to redirect the Middle Arm subsidy away from gas and petrochemical developments that harm public health towards upgrading critical health infrastructure and services in the Northern…
