Page 4105 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 24 November 1993
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MR BERRY: There is always a web of deception from these people. They spin the web of deception. Mr Humphries gets his cloak of earnest on and spins webs of deception, and Mrs Carnell has caught the disease. Should a new structure involve a change to any jobs, the staff will be managed according to the relevant award.
In relation to the nurses' industrial action, Mrs Carnell rightly says that the matter has been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission, and that is where the matter will be dealt with.
Mrs Carnell: They got a letter yesterday. You are continuing to send out letters to them telling them that their rosters are changed.
MR BERRY: What Mrs Carnell does not tell you, of course, is that there is an award which covers the issue of rosters within the hospital system.
Mrs Carnell: So negotiation does not matter?
MR BERRY: The award was the outcome of an industrial dispute some time ago. That is how the award clause got in there. Both parties own the award clause, not just one. Therefore, people are expected to abide by it. Management advise me that they have given more than the required notice to change rosters. I understand that the issue of rosters is a sensitive one. I said that in the Estimates Committee. At the same time, where there are savings to be pursued, management has an obligation to pursue them in accordance with the requirements of the time. My information is that they are pursuing them in accordance with the relevant award clause. They are doing what is lawful.
Mrs Carnell: That was not what the IRC said.
MR BERRY: If you want to challenge, if somebody wants to challenge - - -
Mrs Carnell: That is what they say.
MR BERRY: If somebody wants to challenge the award clause, they can take it to court. As far as we are concerned, they are pursuing it in accordance with the relevant award clause. That matter has been referred back to the Industrial Relations Commission and I should say that that is an appropriate course. The award prescribes, as I am informed, a minimum period of two weeks about roster changes. I think the notice that was given was around a month. ACT Health announced changes in plenty of time and is now working with the staff to finalise the new arrangements. ACT Health will continue working with the assistance of the Industrial Relations Commission, where necessary, to resolve the matter.
Mrs Carnell: How have the nurses got it so wrong?
MR BERRY: Mr Deputy Speaker, Mrs Carnell puts out media releases which are sometimes wrong - in fact, probably always wrong. I was being a bit kind.
Mrs Carnell: What are they going on lightning strikes for?
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