Page 4288 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MRS CARNELL: I ask a supplementary question. I ask again: Is it true that, in relation to the doctor who recently moved from Narrabundah to Phillip Health Centre, the transfer is permanent, not temporary, despite what a Minister's spokesperson might have said on Capital TV last night? Has a replacement, even a temporary replacement, been advertised for?
MR BERRY: Mr Connolly tells me that his daughter was accepted as a new patient a couple of weeks ago. As I say, demand is high for our CMPs. As for the position being advertised, I am not aware of the position, but every time a CMP goes on leave I am sure that we do not always - - -
Mrs Carnell: He has been transferred permanently.
MR BERRY: The number of CMPs is reduced because one has gone on leave. It is as simple as that.
Mr Humphries: That is not true.
MR BERRY: That is my advice. The overall number of CMPs throughout Canberra has been reduced because one has gone on leave. The one from Narrabundah is now working at the Phillip Health Centre, where the CMP went on leave. It is as simple as that. If people from Narrabundah particularly want to go and see that CMP, they will have to go to Phillip to see him or her, but if they want to see a Narrabundah CMP they will have to see the CMPs there. I am very pleased that we have now recruited Mrs Carnell to the campaign for CMP. Usually, she is just an echo for the AMA. I am pleased that we have now recruited her to the cause of CMPs in the community.
Visiting Medical Officers Dispute
MR LAMONT: My question is also directed to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Health. Minister, I refer to the current VMOs strike. Are you able to inform the Assembly as to the apparent motives behind the AMA refusing to advise its members to return to work?
MR BERRY: It is very difficult to get a fix on this because there are many questions that remain unanswered. The Industrial Relations Commission held hearings over two days last week and handed down recommendations that describe as generous the current contract offer that is in the doctors' hands.
Mr Kaine: They were recommendations, not directions.
MR BERRY: The recommendations said that they were generous. That is how the commission operates, Mr Kaine; but you would not know, because you have not had much experience in those areas.
Mrs Carnell: But you have.
Mr De Domenico: Ho, ho!
MR BERRY: We should get the old ho, ho brigade over here a Santa Claus suit. The contracts we have offered the VMOs have been described as generous - and they are generous; there is no question about that. At the same time, it outlined a process of settling outstanding matters whereby those VMOs could return
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .