Mr AH KIT - 1998-08-11
Twelve months ago, the staff canteen at Royal Darwin Hospital was closed down. This took away from staff members an important amenity, let alone an important and informal meeting place.
Over the following 12 months, staff morale deteriorated further. Last financial year, 28% of medical staff voted with their feet and left. Does the minister intend to take action to improve staff morale, including reopening the staff canteen?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to respond to the question from the leader of the opposition from Arnhem. As with most opposition questions, it jumps from one specific issue to another.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The leader of the opposition from Wanguri wishes to make a comment!
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The leader of the opposition from Fannie Bay wishes to make a comment too! That was unfortunately the member for Nhulunbuy’s problem. He sat around with all of his mates and they discussed what was wrong with leadership in Territory Labor. The member for Nhulunbuy and all the others said, ‘We need someone strong’.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I think the Minister for Health should leave it to others on this side who can do this sort of thing better. I ask that he direct his answer to the question provided.
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, when the opposition makes the comment about morale I think it is quite pertinent that I talk about morale in a general sense. It is related to the question, and I am allowed to do that under standing orders.
The member for Nhulunbuy’s problem was that they all sat around and discussed …
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister wants to make light of this, but it is a serious issue. Some 28% of the medical staff have walked out. There is a morale problem there. He is the minister responsible and I ask that he answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I have asked you to confine your remarks to the question.
Mr BURKE: I will desist, Madam Speaker. The problem the member for Nhulunbuy has is that he thought they were talking about his attributes, but they were talking about themselves. They all wanted to be leader.
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! No one appreciates the gratuitous advice coming from the minister. If he wants to talk about leadership, I suggest he concentrate on the numbers on his own side. He might start with the member for Casuarina because we know he has form when it comes to leadership ballots. If he wants the leadership of the Country Liberal Party, he might start with the member for Casuarina, but he will want to watch him because he is a slippery customer. We all know how he let down the member for Blain.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I do not think we are discussing the leadership of the opposition. Would you please concentrate. I have asked you 3 times now to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, it is a gross generalisation to suggest that there is no staff canteen at Royal Darwin Hospital, and then to jump out and say that in the vicinity of 20% of the staff have left Royal Darwin Hospital because they are unable to obtain a decent lunch, God help us.
There have been issues relating to the staff canteen. I know that one was that many of the staff were accessing the canteen at Darwin Private Hospital and were quite comfortable with the service they were receiving at that establishment. However, we have in place strategies to re-establish the canteen. I will seek further advice from my department as to how that is progressing.
Over the following 12 months, staff morale deteriorated further. Last financial year, 28% of medical staff voted with their feet and left. Does the minister intend to take action to improve staff morale, including reopening the staff canteen?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to respond to the question from the leader of the opposition from Arnhem. As with most opposition questions, it jumps from one specific issue to another.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The leader of the opposition from Wanguri wishes to make a comment!
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The leader of the opposition from Fannie Bay wishes to make a comment too! That was unfortunately the member for Nhulunbuy’s problem. He sat around with all of his mates and they discussed what was wrong with leadership in Territory Labor. The member for Nhulunbuy and all the others said, ‘We need someone strong’.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I think the Minister for Health should leave it to others on this side who can do this sort of thing better. I ask that he direct his answer to the question provided.
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, when the opposition makes the comment about morale I think it is quite pertinent that I talk about morale in a general sense. It is related to the question, and I am allowed to do that under standing orders.
The member for Nhulunbuy’s problem was that they all sat around and discussed …
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister wants to make light of this, but it is a serious issue. Some 28% of the medical staff have walked out. There is a morale problem there. He is the minister responsible and I ask that he answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I have asked you to confine your remarks to the question.
Mr BURKE: I will desist, Madam Speaker. The problem the member for Nhulunbuy has is that he thought they were talking about his attributes, but they were talking about themselves. They all wanted to be leader.
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! No one appreciates the gratuitous advice coming from the minister. If he wants to talk about leadership, I suggest he concentrate on the numbers on his own side. He might start with the member for Casuarina because we know he has form when it comes to leadership ballots. If he wants the leadership of the Country Liberal Party, he might start with the member for Casuarina, but he will want to watch him because he is a slippery customer. We all know how he let down the member for Blain.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I do not think we are discussing the leadership of the opposition. Would you please concentrate. I have asked you 3 times now to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, it is a gross generalisation to suggest that there is no staff canteen at Royal Darwin Hospital, and then to jump out and say that in the vicinity of 20% of the staff have left Royal Darwin Hospital because they are unable to obtain a decent lunch, God help us.
There have been issues relating to the staff canteen. I know that one was that many of the staff were accessing the canteen at Darwin Private Hospital and were quite comfortable with the service they were receiving at that establishment. However, we have in place strategies to re-establish the canteen. I will seek further advice from my department as to how that is progressing.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016