The $355 million Acacia digital health program did not have a proper implementation plan produced until two years after the project started which was not effectively adopted, a consultant who worked on the project has revealed, arguing the system was treated merely as an IT project, rather than a system intended to change how healthcare works, adding those in charge were not prepared to make hard decisions. The consultant said perhaps the most important question of all was why money kept being spent without an understanding of whether value was being achieved.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government will not say if it will continue to implement NT Health’s troubled Acacia digital patient record system and has ignored questions about whether it will adopt the 12 recommendations made in a scathing Public Accounts Committee inquiry report released more than two weeks ago.

NT Department of Children and Families chief executive Brent Warren has left the role suddenly, less than a year after being appointed by Minister Robyn Cahill with no explanation provided, which comes amid massive turmoil and controversy in the department.