Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Government has announced a $10 million investment to upgrade maternity, birthing and neonatal intensive care facilities at Royal Darwin Hospital, aiming to improve care for Territory families and meet growing demand for public maternity services.
The funding will support upgrades to the hospital’s Birthing, Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) following the closure of Healthscope’s private maternity services in 2025, which is expected to result in an additional 250 babies being born at Royal Darwin Hospital each year.
The investment will expand the hospital’s capacity by upgrading birthing suites and maternity wards, co-locating maternity outpatient services, increasing the number of single rooms for mothers, creating more space for families, and improving facilities for clinical staff and equipment.
Prime Minister Albanese said every Australian family deserved access to high-quality maternity care regardless of where they lived. “Having a baby should be a joyful time, and families deserve high-quality care, no matter where they live,” Albanese said.
“This investment is about making sure Territory women and their families can continue to access the care and services they need.”
The Prime Minister said the funding builds on the Government’s broader investment in Northern Territory hospitals, which will receive almost $1 billion in additional funding.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the upgrades would deliver practical improvements for women and newborns.
“By investing in Royal Darwin Hospital, we’re delivering better facilities, greater capacity and stronger support for women at one of the most important moments in their lives.”
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the funding would help ensure women across the Territory could continue to access safe and affordable maternity care close to home. “All mothers and mothers-to-be deserve safe, affordable and accessible maternity care,” Senator McCarthy said.
“Our $10 million investment means Territory mums, babies and families can access high-quality maternity care close to home.”
Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said he had promised to secure the funding and welcomed its delivery, while acknowledging the need to restore private maternity services in Darwin. “This investment strengthens public maternity care, but it does not replace the private maternity service Darwin lost,” Gosling said.
“The NT Government now needs to work with private providers to restore that service and give Territory women genuine choice about where they give birth.”
Construction is expected to be completed by late 2027, with the upgraded facilities designed to improve the experience of mothers, babies and families while supporting the Territory’s growing maternity service needs.
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