Page 1287 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 23 March 2010
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Health have been brought to my attention. These individuals have approached me in confidence and have asked me to maintain their confidence. Minister, can you advise how bullying concerns within other units can be raised by individuals to a review or inquiry process such as the secret obstetrics review, or will they have to raise their concerns through the media in order to have their concerns taken seriously by the government?
MS GALLAGHER: I believe this question has been pre-empted by a letter that I wrote to Mr Hanson last week, after several interjections that he had evidence of all of these other complaints. I reminded him in that letter that I had sought information from him when I met with him to discuss the allegations around the obstetrics unit, and to forward information on. He had declined to do so. I even offered, and I said to him, in a de-identified way, so that we could pursue these concerns, and he declined to do so. He then continued to interject last week that he had volumes and volumes of complaints coming to him.
I wrote a letter; I asked him to forward information. In fact, I raised the concern that I hoped he was not just sitting on complaints for his own political advantage and that these matters would be able to be pursued. I understand that, since then, Mr Hanson, obviously on receipt of that letter, has been in contact with the Chief Executive of ACT Health to talk with her about what the processes are for forwarding on complaints or information that he might have. I understand that the Chief Executive of ACT Health has responded to that.
I would encourage Mr Hanson, if he has concerns that are coming to him—and I would imagine there are a variety of ways that he could forward that information on. It could go directly to ACT Health’s Chief Executive; it could go to the Health Services Commissioner for investigation as well. There are a range of options available for Mr Hanson to pursue. To date, he has chosen not to do that. I cannot imagine why, other than serving his own political purpose. I would hope that he acts with good conscience and transfers that information on to the relevant authorities.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Yes, Mr Speaker. Minister, can you advise if bullying and harassment was identified as an issue in the most recent staff culture survey and will you table the survey for the information of members by the close of business today?
MS GALLAGHER: No, I will not table it. I will take some further advice on this. I understand—I have looked at this in the past; I think the opposition has asked me this in the past—that it is commercial-in-confidence by the person that does the workforce culture survey. But I will check that—
Mr Smyth: On what grounds?
Mr Hanson: You can table it in the Assembly.
MS GALLAGHER: No. It might not suit your political campaign, Mr Hanson, but I understand that last time I looked at this, that was the response that I was given. We are doing presentations to different units across the hospital. In fact, the chief
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