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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 3 Hansard (27 May) . . Page.. 649 ..

MR SPEAKER: I am sure the Minister is coming to it.

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. I must admit that I did digress a little because of Mr Stanhope's interjection. I will come back specifically to the question, which I was not trying to avoid. We were not expecting to see the contracts all signed off immediately. I do know that in a couple of specialties we are not going to have any problem. But the critical specialties are anaesthetics and trauma, of course, because in both of these areas the hospital simply will not run if we do not have anaesthetists.

We do have some salaried anaesthetists and we have some backup there. But the reality is that if we do not have VMOs signing this contract we may go back into a position that we were in when Mr Berry was Health Minister, where the doctors decided they were prepared to close down the hospital, they were prepared to allow people's lives to be put at risk, for their own salaries. I hope that we will not get into that situation. I have suggested in one case, in the case of the trauma doctors, a lateral solution; but, generally, I am looking at process rather than interfering with the individual contracts. We have to be very careful because the Trade Practices Act puts an obligation on us to ensure that the negotiations are with individual contractors.

But to come back specifically to your question, I am having a meeting this afternoon with officers from the Canberra Hospital, from Calvary Hospital and from the Department of Health and Community Care so that I can check through the contingency plans. The contingency plans are about ensuring, where we can, that at least we have backup services in each of the specialties; but, where we are not able to do that, about ensuring that if indeed the medical officers withdraw their services, or do not renew their contracts, we are able to provide appropriate ambulance services to deal with trauma and that our contacts with hospitals in Queanbeyan, Goulburn and Sydney are all in order.

We are putting those contingency plans into place. We hope that that will not occur, but it would be irresponsible not to deal with that. I must say that the issue we are dealing with is an issue where we are offering equivalent to the highest rates of pay in Australia. But for some visiting medical officers - I think it is important to understand this - that will mean a cut in their level of pay, and nobody likes a cut in their level of pay. My view on that is that they have had it good for quite a long time and have pocketed that money and they should say, "Well, that is terrific; but now it is time to be at the next highest level in Australia, New South Wales, and still be paid 70 per cent higher than the average". It is a perfectly reasonable position for the Government to take; but, on the other hand, it is appropriate for us to have contingency plans in place in case greed overwhelms their sense of patient care.

MR CORBELL: I thank the Minister for his answer and I am sure that he will keep the Assembly informed as to the progress of negotiations and what might occur in the system. My supplementary question, Mr Speaker, is: Can the Minister say what strategies the Government currently has in place to ensure that patients who have to leave Canberra for surgery are adequately transported and cared for and that family support is provided?

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