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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (29 March) . . Page.. 1042 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

should have received similar information from either Salary Packaging Services Ltd or McMillan Shakespeare, the salary packaging bureau services contracted by TCH to administer salary packaging.

Mr Berry, this was not just a go. We have actually worked quite hard to ensure, first of all, that our employees understand the implications and, secondly, that we are in place to be able to handle them. We are in place to be able to handle them because the Canberra Hospital's documentation on salary packaging states very clearly that any changes to taxation legislation are not a basis for further pay claims unless the taxation exemption status of the hospital is removed. Mr Speaker, that is a concern. Not only did the Treasurers discuss it, but also Health Ministers met and discussed exactly the same issue.

Ms Carnell: Because every hospital is in the same boat.

MR MOORE: Hospitals right across Australia are in the same boat. More importantly, for the States with rural medical services, rural doctors, often it has been the extra benefit that they have been able to provide that has lured doctors and other medical staff to remote hospitals, so it is of major concern to them. It is of particular concern when you take into account the fact that the Prime Minister said not so long ago that there would be no further action by the Federal Government that would hit at rural folk in Australia. I do not remember his exact words, but they were to that effect.

The other thing I would like to say is that Ernst and Young regularly brief the Canberra Hospital on the progress of the FBT legislation as part of the services that they are providing to the hospital on FBT. If the Bill is passed by the Senate, and there is still great doubt about that, it will impact on wage negotiations with the ACT Salaried Medical Officers Federation, ASMOF. However, it should be recognised that even though the benefits will be lower - it could be as much as $1,000 a month - salary packaging will still provide employees of the hospital with a significant economic advantage if the legislation is passed.

MR SPEAKER: Do you have a supplementary question, Mr Berry?

MR BERRY: Yes, Mr Speaker. Minister, do you not now wish you had given them a real pay rise, instead of one based on this legislation?

MR SPEAKER: That is an expression of opinion.

MR MOORE: I understand your jealousy, Mr Berry, because what has happened is that we have had an enterprise agreement negotiated in good faith which the vast majority of the nursing staff and the union supported.

Mr Berry: Oh, you are pathetic.

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