Page 4109 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 24 November 1993
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Nurses also have been undergoing fundamental reform. At a time when there is a need to find better and more efficient ways of doing business, the nurses are choosing to cling to old-fashioned practices, and I understand that. I understand that because, sometimes, practices that have been in place for a long time are difficult to change; workplace practice becomes a way of life, but we have to change. We have to change if we are going to get better. Rosters are usually long-term things. As I said in the Estimates Committee process, they are difficult areas. We never expected change in that rosters area to be easy. Mr Humphries had a little taste of this as well. He attempted to go through the process, but it did not come off. It is an area that has to be addressed. Because it is difficult, that does not mean that you ignore it. Those are the important messages. I think there has been some - - -
Mrs Carnell: You need to negotiate.
MR BERRY: Negotiate? Give them everything they want is what you think negotiation means.
Mrs Carnell: No, it is not.
MR BERRY: That is what you say in relation to doctors, because you said, "Give them their current pay rates; give them back".
Mrs Carnell: I did not say that.
MR BERRY: Yes, you did. You said, "Give them back. Extend their contracts".
Mrs Carnell: I said, "Extend their contracts while you negotiate".
MR BERRY: Yes, that is right. Then, when we get to the end of that and they will not give it up, what do you do? Extend their contracts again? We would never keep you happy, Mrs Carnell. That is fair enough because, like most Liberals, you were never meant to be happy. You were born that way. The issue of nursing hours and rosters was always going to be a sensitive one; nevertheless, it is one that has to be addressed and will be addressed in proper consultation with the nurses. Where there is conflict, it will be dealt with in the Industrial Relations Commission. From time to time the Industrial Relations Commission will direct us to take certain action and we will - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, your time has expired.
Motion (by Ms Follett) proposed:
That Mr Berry be granted an extension of time.
Mr Humphries: Mr Deputy Speaker, it is traditional not to have extensions of time during MPIs. We have agreed that we should not have extensions of time.
Mr Berry: Ten seconds.
Mr Humphries: If he wants to do it.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ten seconds.
(Extension of time granted)
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