Media Release.
Shadow
Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller today called on the Newman Government to
abandon its controversial policy to force Queensland’s senior doctors
to sign individual contracts
after warnings that the future of the State’s public hospitals was at
risk.
“Doctors
are angry and the Australian Medical Association Queensland said today
that if the LNP does not back down it believes doctors will either leave
Queensland or leave the
public health system."
“This
headlong plunge into Newman’s WorkChoices is threatening the very
existence of our health system, particularly in remote and regional
areas where Queensland Health struggles
to attract and retain highly trained staff,” she said.
Mrs
Miller said while the Newman Government’s failure to consult had set it
on a potentially disastrous collision course with the AMA, it wasn’t
just doctors who would have their
workplace agreements and awards stripped away.
“Queenslanders
are waking up to the fact that these dictatorial changes, forced
through Parliament with a massive majority and ignoring all pleas to
consult with stakeholders,
will bring Queensland Health into dispute with dentists, senior nurses
and medical officers."
“It
is as if Health Minister Lawrence Springborg is trying to provoke a
crisis to undermine the public health service and force patients to use
private health care."
“The
Opposition supports the AMA and the Australian Salaried Medical
Officers Federation which today lodged a notice of dispute in the
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission."
“Labor
believes in adequately funded public hospitals staffed by the best
specialists, surgeons, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals
available. We believe in fair
enterprise agreements to attract and retain the staff needed to provide
world-class healthcare."
“If
the Newman Government continues down this road to private contracts for
all staff earning more than $129,000 it risks destroying a system
cherished by all Queenslander,”
she said.
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