Page 747 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 2010
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MS GALLAGHER: Well, they did not. They wrote around what they called concerns with the workplace environment, I believe.
Mr Hanson: And that’s not serious?
MS GALLAGHER: Add your—
Mr Hanson: Nine doctors resigning is not serious?
Mr Seselja: They’re trivial concerns, are they?
MS GALLAGHER: The information that the opposition interject with—
Mr Hanson: You weren’t aware that nine doctors resigned?
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hanson.
MS GALLAGHER: The information that the opposition interject with was not contained in those letters. So let us just—
Mr Hanson: You were unaware of it?
MS GALLAGHER: They were not contained in the letters. Let us be clear: the letters—
Mr Smyth: So there was a war, but you had no detail?
MS GALLAGHER: You know, I felt that if people were going to raise issues alleging concerns with the workplace environment they needed to be clear about what they were. I think it is entirely reasonable. So I wrote back, and I asked them to elaborate, and they chose not to.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary?
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Minister, you described the recent issues in health as doctor politics and then as a 10-year war that has done damage to the Canberra Hospital. Which is true, or are both true?
MS GALLAGHER: I stand by the comments I have made. The tensions that exist between doctors date back many years. All of the statements I have made in relation to this matter are true and correct from where I sit. The opposition can continue to slant and add little words here and change the flavour of it. They are really enjoying the bashing that they are doing of the Canberra Hospital. I do not think I have ever seen them enjoy anything quite so much, from the behaviour that they have displayed in here—bashing the public health system.
But with all of the comments I have made, what I am trying to do is ensure that there is a fair and reasonable process for all doctors involved to have their grievances aired
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