Senior Cairns doctors take first step towards resignation in protest over State Government contracts

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Senior Cairns doctors take first step towards resignation in protest over State Government contracts #qldpol #smoqld #keepourdoctors

UP to 100 senior Cairns doctors have taken the first step towards resignation in protest at planned new work contracts. 

Medicos from around Queensland including 150 in Cairns gathered on Wednesday night to unanimously reject Health Minister Lawrence Springborg’s latest offer to end the crisis over public hospital contracts.

Cairns Dr Sean McManus has given his resignation letter to union officials who will submit letters en masse if the Government refuses to renegotiate.

“Our feeling is that they’ve stonewalled us for four months and then 24 hours before, they give us an encouraging offer,” he said.

“But because of the loss of trust over past months, we want to see them put what they say in words and actions.”

Dr McManus said under the new work agreements, doctors would not have fair work rights and there had been a complete breakdown of trust between the medical community and the Government.

“What we are saying is they need to go back, change the laws and redraft the contracts to be fair and equitable and, yes, we’ll sign,” he said.

“All of us are happy to sign a fair contract.

“But if they don’t repeal the industrial relations laws we will leave.

“There’s no goodwill left.”

Cairns physician and Senior Medical Staff Association representative Stephen Vincent estimated 90 per cent of the 241 senior and visiting medical officers would give notice by the end of the month and finish service on June 30.

“Unfortunately, this has been dragging on for too long,” he said.

“I suspect there will be 1000 doctors (statewide) resigning by the end of the month across all specialties ED, anaesthetics, surgery, intensive care units, obstetrics and paediatrics.

“That’s decades of experience wiped out within a couple of weeks.

“The cancer service will grind to a halt, elective surgeries will grind to a halt.”

It is understood resignation letters from doctors across Queensland are being held by the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation who will present them to the State Government.

“I work part time, so I can work in the private sector but I like working at Cairns Hospital and it’s sad to leave,” Dr Vincent said.

“But there is no way I’d want to sign a contract that, in my opinion, is selling your soul to the Devil.”

Cairns Hospital board chairman Bob Norman said there was no obligation for doctors to sign individual work agreements.

“We are not going to push anyone out the door or take any retribution against anybody (who doesn’t sign),” he said.

Queensland Health director-general Ian Maynard said he was satisfied with a recent addendum to the contract.

“We have addressed each issue and provided solutions which give doctors certainty and confirms exactly how the contract arrangements will operate in practice,” he said.

“We’ll also introduce a legislative change to ensure contracts cannot be eroded by a director-general directive.”