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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3742 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

legislation for the VMOs and I have already made comment on that. This situation is unique in lots of ways.

Mr Smyth asked who in his or her right mind would think it would be possible to manage this process in seven weeks. As I was led to understand by the minister, and I do not recall being told otherwise by the AMA or the VMOs, there has not been huge concern expressed about the possibility of this work being done in seven weeks. However, it could take longer. That would still be possible anyway under Mr Corbell's amendment. All we are really doing here is specifying a minimum period. I believe that most of the VMOs are wanting to work with this proposal in good faith. That has certainly been my experience of VMOs.

Mr Smyth made the point that, through negotiation, they could still agree to do that. I just think that it is really important that we make it absolutely possible to deal with this matter before 28 November. I am prepared to say that I think that the potential for widespread disruption to the health service because of an industrial campaign should be avoided as much as possible. Whilst I accept that there is an unfortunate situation in terms of timing, my considered view is that the community interest is best served at this point, looking at the history in the ACT of these sorts of questions, by supporting what Mr Corbell is proposing.

Question put:

That Mr Corbell's amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted-

Ayes 8

Noes 5

 

Mr Berry

Mr Hargreaves

Ms Dundas

Mr Stefaniak

Mr Corbell

Mr Quinlan

Mrs Dunne

Mrs Cross

Mr Stanhope

Mr Pratt

Ms Gallagher

Ms Tucker

Mr Smyth

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment agreed to.

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (5.15): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to move together amendments 5 to 22 circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

MR CORBELL: I move amendments 5 to 22 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 3760].

Mr Speaker, these amendments simply continue the process the Assembly agreed to with my first amendments, that is, to provide for unincorporated associations to be potential bargaining agents.

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