Page 172 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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Mrs Carnell: Oh!
MR BERRY: They did. Mrs Carnell shakes her head.
Mrs Carnell: What about those who provided services?
MR BERRY: Of course, some of them provided some services. Some of them provided none. There were some who prepared patients and sent them interstate, who did not do their job or who did not do all of their job. What we have to do is to sit down and assess any claims that were made in relation to the services that they provided to see, first of all, what rate would be paid. We have to determine an appropriate rate because there was no contract, according to the doctors. They claimed that that was why they could not work - because there was no contract. So we have to determine a rate. We also have to determine how many of those VMOs broke ranks with the rest but still pretended that they were on strike.
Mrs Carnell: What difference does that make?
MR BERRY: I think it is interesting public information. The impression that was attempted to be created out there was that all of them were on some form of strike and they were not providing services. Now we hear that some were and they want payment for it. There is going to be a very careful investigation into this, bearing in mind what the Auditor-General said about the charging practices of VMOs and the public hospital system. If we are going to pay we are going to make sure that we pay only those who deserve it, we pay only the rate which they are entitled to, and, if there is a payment due, they are paid for the amount of work they performed, and no more.
MRS CARNELL: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Taking into account the absolute disruption caused by the VMOs dispute last year, particularly to people without private health insurance, can the Minister tell us whether he is, or has been, a member of a private health fund in the last 12 months?
Mr Lamont: That is not a supplementary question.
Mrs Carnell: It is. Come on!
MADAM SPEAKER: I am not sure that it is in order. It is a personal question. It has nothing to do with anything that the Minister - - -
Mrs Carnell: It has everything to do with it.
MADAM SPEAKER: I am sorry for thinking out loud. Give me three minutes to look at the standing orders.
The standing orders state:
Questions may be put to a Minister relating to public affairs with which that Minister is officially connected, to proceedings pending in the Assembly or to any matter of administration for which that Minister is responsible.
That supplementary question is out of order.
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