Mr WOOD - 2012-10-30
It is quoted in today’s NT News that you dispute the claim that four staff at the Palmerston Urgent Care After-Hours Service who lost their jobs were public servants. Is it not the case that (1) your government recently reneged on contracts with two companies that won the contract to supply nurses and doctors for the 6 pm to 10 pm shift of the Urgent Care After-ours Service at Palmerston; (2) that the four administrative department of Health workers, who would have had work until 2013, have lost their jobs because your government reneged on the contracts; and (3) that the two nurses who also lost their jobs did so because you reneged on the contracts?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I have noticed the member for Nelson’s concern about the urgent after hours community facility at the Palmerston Super Clinic. Firstly, well done to Robyn Cahill and all the staff at FCD, the Palmerston Super Clinic. They are doing a great job, and I was thrilled to get out there the other day and see them. It is interesting that the question the member for Nelson asked was also put to me yesterday or the day before in a media release by the member for Casuarina, the shadow health minister, Kon Vatskalis, saying it was alarming the CLP government had taken no responsibility for the reduced opening hours of the after-hours clinic at Palmerston.
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I would like an answer that is relevant to my question.
Madam SPEAKER: If you could get to the point minister.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you, member for Nelson, I am getting there. So the shadow minister had a bit of a crack saying we are taking no responsibility. That is an interesting statement because, as part of the contractual arrangements FCD (Flinders Charles Darwin) has with the Commonwealth - Flinders Charles Darwin runs the Palmerston Super Clinic - they have to make the transition to later opening hours for the Palmerston Super Clinic. There will be no reduction at all in services at the Palmerston Super Clinic. In fact they will be enhanced as more comprehensive GP and specialist services will be offered. So in that regard it is a good thing.
Getting back to the contract the Palmerston Super Clinic has with the federal government, I want people to know that it was not this government that put it in place. That contract was signed on 17 April 2009 by the then CEO of Health, Dr David Ashbridge, and can we guess who the minister might have been at the time? None other than the member for Casuarina, who put in place these arrangements.
Finally, to answer the member for Nelson’s question, we are not laying off staff. Those staff are from another agency through other agency arrangements. They are not public servants. They are not employed by the Northern Territory government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I have noticed the member for Nelson’s concern about the urgent after hours community facility at the Palmerston Super Clinic. Firstly, well done to Robyn Cahill and all the staff at FCD, the Palmerston Super Clinic. They are doing a great job, and I was thrilled to get out there the other day and see them. It is interesting that the question the member for Nelson asked was also put to me yesterday or the day before in a media release by the member for Casuarina, the shadow health minister, Kon Vatskalis, saying it was alarming the CLP government had taken no responsibility for the reduced opening hours of the after-hours clinic at Palmerston.
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I would like an answer that is relevant to my question.
Madam SPEAKER: If you could get to the point minister.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you, member for Nelson, I am getting there. So the shadow minister had a bit of a crack saying we are taking no responsibility. That is an interesting statement because, as part of the contractual arrangements FCD (Flinders Charles Darwin) has with the Commonwealth - Flinders Charles Darwin runs the Palmerston Super Clinic - they have to make the transition to later opening hours for the Palmerston Super Clinic. There will be no reduction at all in services at the Palmerston Super Clinic. In fact they will be enhanced as more comprehensive GP and specialist services will be offered. So in that regard it is a good thing.
Getting back to the contract the Palmerston Super Clinic has with the federal government, I want people to know that it was not this government that put it in place. That contract was signed on 17 April 2009 by the then CEO of Health, Dr David Ashbridge, and can we guess who the minister might have been at the time? None other than the member for Casuarina, who put in place these arrangements.
Finally, to answer the member for Nelson’s question, we are not laying off staff. Those staff are from another agency through other agency arrangements. They are not public servants. They are not employed by the Northern Territory government.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016