Page 3971 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, why did this report have to be leaked to the media before the public could become aware of the issues?
MS GALLAGHER: I do not believe it was leaked, because the article directly quotes things that are not in the report. So I do not believe it was leaked. I believe someone’s handwritten notes were typed up and probably have been provided.
The public interest issues are issues of concern being raised by junior doctors against senior doctors in the unit. Again, just be careful about choosing sides in this. There is disagreement between junior doctors and senior doctors in the unit about how the unit operates. They are being actively managed but all of those issues were well known to the public. It has nothing to do with the opposition’s political campaign to get their hands on this report.
The public interest issues—and I said this on Friday—are around concerns that have to be dealt with and are being dealt with. Concerns about rostering, around workload, around training are all well known in the public arena. Without the support of the workforce, which is under enormous pressure, particularly with this level of public scrutiny of their workplace, I do not believe it is in the interests of that unit at this point in time. Without their support, I would not release it.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, an investigation into the leak has been announced. Is this the highest priority while the maternity unit is in crisis?
MS GALLAGHER: I do not accept Mr Hanson’s analysis of the unit in any level at all. There are certainly concerns but, again, go and have a look at a whole range of workplaces, where you will find disagreements between staff within units, whether it be the hospital or any other workplace. We have to let managers manage them. We have to let staff in the unit work through the processes that they have agreed to. On Friday and Saturday, with the leaking of that information, there was huge concern from within the unit.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: My concern is for the staff in the unit and that they are appropriately supported through this process. That is not your motivation, Mr Hanson, at all. Let us be up front and honest about it. It is not your motivation.
MADAM SPEAKER: Standing order 42, please, Chief Minister.
MS GALLAGHER: It is not to actually deal with the issues; it is to try and get page after page in the Canberra Times about it. It is much harder—
Mr Hanson: We have been trying to deal with it since 2010.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video