Tasmanian doctors threaten industrial action over pay dispute

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Photo: Tasmanian doctors could resort to industrial action over the pay dispute. (ABC News)

Tasmanian doctors have threatened industrial action over a Government move to appeal against a recent industrial decision it says will divert “precious” public health dollars.

The State Government is challenging the Tasmanian Industrial Commission’s determination on the medical practitioners public sector award.

It is appealing against the inclusion of a scheme which allows salaried doctors to be paid for treating private patients in public hospitals.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the decision could result in precious public health dollars diverted to a 35 per cent salary loading for salaried doctors.

“I was really surprised at some of the comments made, in fact, the AMA and the Government have substantially reached agreement,” he said.

“And last year the Government announced that we’d agreed to a 6.5 per cent increase for doctors, that’s already now being paid.”

Australian Medical Association Tasmanian president Tim Greenaway said the Government’s stand would not help the state attract and retain doctors.

“Doctors are extremely angry,” he said.

“And many are telling me that it is a marker of the fact the Government cannot be trusted and it does threaten the reform process.”

Associate Professor Greenaway also accused the Government of thumbing its nose at salaried doctors in the state’s public health system.

“We are having trouble attracting and retaining doctors yet this Government has reneged on its obligation to honour an Industrial Commission decision,” he said.

“At the same time they are throwing millions of dollars at an unsustainable locum service in the north west,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said the Government would abide by the ruling of the commission’s full bench and hoped doctors would too.

AMA doctors and non-members will meet on Wednesday to discuss a plan of action.