Page 2925 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 16 October 2007
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letter from the office of the Acting Minister for Health stating that a decision would be made by the end of November, more than 10 weeks after the application was submitted.
Minister, at a time when there is a shortfall of some 70 GPs in the ACT, why does your government have such inconsistent processes and give such inconsistent advice to people who are willing to meet the challenges of skills shortages?
MR CORBELL: The government do not have an inconsistent approach. We treat public safety very seriously. We do not want to see doctors come to our community, or indeed to any community, who simply are not up to standard to provide the level of care we expect in our community.
The claims made by Dr van Rensburg are not entirely accurate. Mr Speaker, the information required for the registration of an overseas trained doctor has been consistently stated on the Medical Board website throughout this year. The Medical Board website—in particular, the application documentation required—has not changed at all during 2007. The advice has remained consistent throughout 2007 as to what information is required for the registration of an overseas trained doctor. In particular, the issues Dr van Rensburg takes issue with—which are certificates of good standing, Australian Federal Police checks and medical indemnity insurance—have all been consistently stated as requirements on the ACT Medical Board website throughout this calendar year. There has been no change in that regard.
Mr Speaker, my office and I have been in contact with Dr van Rensburg, and I have advised him in writing as to what the process is. Further, subject to all satisfactory checks being completed, there is no reason why this overseas trained doctor should not be registered and ready to practise here in the ACT at the beginning of the next calendar year. That is the time frame that Dr van Rensburg is working towards. That is what he always anticipated. The Medical Board will meet those requirements.
We make no apology, Mr Speaker, for ensuring that overseas trained doctors have the appropriate qualifications to practise in our community. We do not want to see doctors coming into our community who do not have the appropriate levels of training, or who perhaps come without the appropriate security and criminal history checks in place. That is not acceptable to us. We will insist on that information. The Medical Board has consistently advised of these requirements on its website since the beginning of this year.
MRS BURKE: Thank you. Mr Speaker, I seek your advice. I wish to seek leave to table these documents from Dr van Rensburg.
MR SPEAKER: You will need leave.
MRS BURKE: Just for members’ information; I thought they may be interested.
Leave granted.
MRS BURKE: I table the following documents:
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