Mr REED - 2003-04-30
I preface the question with a memorandum, which reads:
As the Christmas period is upon us and celebrations are occurring we need to remember to be conscious of our safety.
Catch a taxi to and from your destination, walk in groups when leaving and returning to the hospital grounds. Report
any suspicious behaviour or concerns to the police and/or security. Security are available to escort staff to their vehicles
if required.
People could be forgiven for thinking this memo was issued to the people of Baghdad but, in fact, it was issued to the staff of Alice Springs Hospital. So, minister, are you satisfied that hospital staff have to go about their workplace as if living in a war zone?
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the memo and advise honourable members that I have obscured the name of the person who signed it.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as you will hear from my voice, I have laryngitis so I will speak as loudly as I can.
I am not familiar with the memo which the member for Katherine is showing to the House. I would have to say that it is a sensible memorandum, as it would be for any workplace. Any workplace would want its staff to be looked after properly and, if there were people going after hours to their cars - men and women – it is quite reasonable for them to seek the assistance of security guards in those circumstances.
I do not think there is anything even remotely strange about this. I can remember when I was at university in the 1970s and 1980s that, in fact, this kind of thing happened then. So, why should it be surprising now, in the year 2003, that there would be people seeking security after hours? This is quite common, and very normal practice. I would like to congratulate the member of staff who gave this memo to the staff in my hospital. So, thank you to that person.
As the Christmas period is upon us and celebrations are occurring we need to remember to be conscious of our safety.
Catch a taxi to and from your destination, walk in groups when leaving and returning to the hospital grounds. Report
any suspicious behaviour or concerns to the police and/or security. Security are available to escort staff to their vehicles
if required.
People could be forgiven for thinking this memo was issued to the people of Baghdad but, in fact, it was issued to the staff of Alice Springs Hospital. So, minister, are you satisfied that hospital staff have to go about their workplace as if living in a war zone?
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the memo and advise honourable members that I have obscured the name of the person who signed it.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as you will hear from my voice, I have laryngitis so I will speak as loudly as I can.
I am not familiar with the memo which the member for Katherine is showing to the House. I would have to say that it is a sensible memorandum, as it would be for any workplace. Any workplace would want its staff to be looked after properly and, if there were people going after hours to their cars - men and women – it is quite reasonable for them to seek the assistance of security guards in those circumstances.
I do not think there is anything even remotely strange about this. I can remember when I was at university in the 1970s and 1980s that, in fact, this kind of thing happened then. So, why should it be surprising now, in the year 2003, that there would be people seeking security after hours? This is quite common, and very normal practice. I would like to congratulate the member of staff who gave this memo to the staff in my hospital. So, thank you to that person.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016