The Northern Territory Government has announced all future operators of Darwin Private Hospital will be legally required to provide private maternity services under new legislation to be introduced to Parliament next week.
Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro said the Private Hospitals Amendment Bill 2026 will deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring back choice for Territory mothers and families.
“Territory women deserve greater choice over their care at this vital moment in their lives and that means giving families more options than relying on the public system alone,” the Chief Minister said.
“We are now enshrining in law the right to access private maternity services in the Territory.
“The CLP has been steadfast in its position that private maternity must be restored at Darwin Private Hospital to strengthen our health system as we restore the unique Territory lifestyle.
“We want the Territory to be a place where families can put down roots and build their future. That includes making sure that women have access to the maternity care they want and need, without feeling they have to leave the Territory to get it.”
The Chief Minister said the new operator of Darwin Private Hospital, Calvary, has indicated its commitment to re-establish private maternity and birthing services.
With the transfer expected to be completed by the end of 2026, NT Health is working with Calvary to restore private maternity services as soon as possible.
The Government is also exploring options to acquire more beds in the private hospital for public hospital patients, mostly for public patients recovering from surgery and other medical procedures, as part of its plan to ease bed block being caused by the Federal Government’s failure to deliver aged care beds.
“We plan to use more private beds for public patients to relieve pressure on the public hospital system, which will also deliver a better outcome for the public system,” the Chief Minister said.
Minister for Health, Steve Edgington said the Government had met its promise to explore all available legal, legislative and commercial options to ensure private maternity services were restored in the Territory.
“Our amendments will make maternity and birthing services a condition of the Darwin Private Hospital licence,” Minister Edgington said.
“This means every future operator will be required to provide these services, protecting Territory families from losing this important choice again.”
