SICK HEALTH PRIORITIES

The NT Government subsidises to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars visits by the Crusty Demons and the Super Bikes , says it will give $10 million to the Fannie Bay racecourse, gave the tiny greyhound racing fraternity a cool milion some time ago and has just announced it will spend more than $40 million on a new emergency generator at the Royal Darwin Hospital . Meanwhile, right now, a laser machine used in the treatment of eye complaints at the hospital is not working properly and needs replacing at the piddling cost of $38,000. Its possible replacement is being discussed , letters are being written , time is being wasted , patients are being shuffled back and forth. Patients wanting treatment for macular degeneration and other ophthalmic conditions have been told they may have to - you guessed it - go south .