Page 1726 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 7 June 2022

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looking at how we can identify more in collaboration with some of those volunteer groups that want to do more planning, and want to care for some of our reserves and undertake more rewilding activities in the bush capital.

Canberra Hospital—safety

MS CASTLEY: My question is to the minister for workplace safety. The Canberra Times understands that last Thursday WorkSafe issued a workplace safety improvement notice at the Canberra Hospital emergency department. Is this correct and, if so, what were the safety issues that made WorkSafe attend the ED and what improvements have been made?

MR GENTLEMAN: I thank the member for the question. It is probably a matter for Minister Stephen-Smith with regard to the location of the WorkSafe issue. Of course, WorkSafe do a lot of work to provide the best safety outcomes for Canberrans and they work across government as well as the private sector in the ACT. I will take the detail of the question on notice and come back to the member.

MS CASTLEY: To be confirmed on notice will also be what improvements have been made, if any. My first supplementary question is: has WorkSafe attended the ED in the past four years?

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I will take that question, Madam Speaker, as Minister for Health. I am aware that WorkSafe has been attending the emergency department. I do not think it is appropriate to ask Minister Gentleman to take on notice what improvements Canberra Hospital is making. I am happy to take that question on notice as well in terms of what improvements Canberra Hospital is making.

I understand that WorkSafe has been attending the emergency department to talk with staff about the particular workplace pressures that exist at the moment, which we have talked about many times, in terms of the very high levels of demand and the staffing pressures that exist within the emergency department and how these are being managed.

MR CAIN: Minister—and I will let you choose—how many times has WorkSafe attended the Canberra Hospital and emergency department in the last two years, and why?

MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Obviously, I will have to take the detail of that question on notice. All of our public service agencies are very aware of their responsibility to report matters to WorkSafe. Canberra Health Services not only includes Canberra Hospital but also a range of other facilities as well. Where there are incidents that need to be reported to WorkSafe, they will be reported and where they want to seek advice from WorkSafe and that is appropriate, they will also work collaboratively with WorkSafe.

I think, again, it is a bit of a stretch to imply that because WorkSafe is visiting somewhere that that is necessarily a negative thing. It is actually a productive relationship between many of our directorates and WorkSafe to ensure that we are


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