NT Labor pledges to build new Royal Darwin Hospital if it wins 2028 election

The Northern Territory Labor Opposition has announced plans to construct a new Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) if it secures the 2028 election victory. The current RDH, the Northern Territory's largest and most frequented hospital, is in a state of disrepair, facing constant code yellow alerts, overcrowding, and staff shortages. Shadow Health Minister Chansey Paech has pledged the Labor commitment to delivering a new RDH, emphasizing the importance of involving medical professionals, architects, and Territorians in the design process.

The new hospital is expected to be either constructed on the current hospital site in Tiwi or on Defence land earmarked for sale in Berrimah, with the latter site reportedly offering greater advantages, including proximity to the airport for emergency retrieval services. Labor's pledge has been welcomed by the Australian Medical Association NT (AMA NT), which stresses the need for a brand-new facility due to the current hospital's inability to be patched up.

No exact cost has been disclosed, but estimates suggest the new RDH could surpass $1 billion. While the Commonwealth government has not publicly committed to funding the new RDH, the AMA NT's vice president, Dayna Duncan, remains confident that federal support will be forthcoming. CLP Health Minister Steve Edgington has criticized Labor's past spending habits and questioned the timing of the promise, stating that his government is focused on planning for future health infrastructure across the Northern Territory.