Doctors to discuss contracts with Qld govt #qldpol #keepourdoctors #smoqld
SENIOR doctors will next week begin renewed negotiations with the Queensland government over unpopular new work contracts after a number of protests.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg and assistant minister Chris Davis met with Australian Medical Association (AMA) President Steve Hambleton, incoming AMA Queensland President Shaun Rudd and Queensland Health HR Chief Lyn Rowland at Parliament House on Thursday night.
“The meeting agreed that while negotiations on the contract framework are complete, a dialogue on the implementation of six key issues will begin on Monday,” Mr Springborg said in a statement on Friday.
“These are the basic concerns that are spelt out within the contract framework, but require a full understanding on all sides prior to the implementation of the SMOs (senior medical officers) contracts on July 7.”
Mr Springborg said the government wouldn’t revisit legislative changes already passed by parliament.
However, he agreed to work with doctors and unions as the contracts were implemented to address any issues or concerns.
Monday’s meeting will follow a string of protest actions against the government, including a gathering of 900 doctors in a Brisbane hotel on Wednesday night that passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Springborg.
Several highly skilled doctors earlier agreed at a rally in Ipswich to walk away from the state’s public health system unless the government abandoned the controversial new contracts.
The government argues the new deals increase severance pay and mean doctors could no longer be transferred anywhere in the state and will have recourse to common law.
But opponents says doctors will no longer be able to access the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission over unfair dismissals, there was no binding arbitration and the employer would still be able to unilaterally vary contracts.
Source: News.com.au