Page 3640 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010
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MS GALLAGHER: They did not identify their issues. What I asked them to do was identify the workplace issues that they had alluded to. At the same time that I received those letters, and I think I have gone through this a number of times in this place, I also requested advice from my department about were there any concerns with the maternity unit specifically in relation to the letters that I received from these doctors, and the answer back from them was no.
Mr Seselja: They said there were no concerns?
MS GALLAGHER: As much as you do not like the answer I am giving you, that is the answer. I was written to, I sought to respond to the letters, they did not write back, I sought advice from the department, the advice back was that there were no issues, I met with the director of the unit, she said there were no issues. I did everything I could in the absence of any formal issues being raised with me.
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Given the unequivocal findings in relation to disruptive and inappropriate behaviour and the fact that complaints had not been followed through, do you now think it is necessary that you apologise when you said that their complaints were not serious, as it has now been proven that their complaints are serious?
MS GALLAGHER: No, I never said the complaints are not serious. I said there were no complaints. The issues the doctors wrote to me about were—and they said—workplace issues. I will check—
Mrs Dunne: Disruptive and inappropriate behaviour, perhaps?
MS GALLAGHER: No, that is not what they wrote in their letter to which I was responding. So let us get the facts right about what occurred. I was written to by four doctors. I wrote back to those doctors. I also sought advice from my department and I sought advice from the director of the unit. Okay? And all the advice back to me was that there are no concerns within the unit. The minute that it was clear to me that there were issues within the unit, I acted to investigate those concerns. Okay? And that is the fact of the matter.
MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, what steps will you now take to ensure that you will take concerns about workplace bullying seriously rather than to allow the culture of reticence that you have created in your department to continue?
MS GALLAGHER: I have not created a culture of reticence in the department. I have acted on every single complaint that comes forward around bullying or
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