Mr MILLS - 2008-09-11
You would be aware of comments by your Minister for Health to this parliament yesterday that the minister accepts the Coroner’s findings in their entirety including that there was a nurse staffing crisis at RDH in 2006-07. Do you stand by your comments to this parliament on 20 February 2007, and I will table the Hansard, following a question by the then shadow minister for Health about the nursing crisis at Royal Darwin Hospital, that he was just scaremongering?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The death of Mrs Margaret Winter was an absolute tragedy and the Coroner has conducted a rigorous investigation as to the causes and circumstances surrounding Mrs Winter’s death.
In regard to political debate in the Territory parliament back in 2007, the issues around the debate at that time surrounded an EBA that was currently being conducted between the Minister for Public Employment and the agency. That was very clearly where the debate was at that particular time.
If we are getting back to the tragic death of Mrs Margaret Winter, the Coroner went through a very thorough, independent, rigorous investigation as to the causes and circumstances of Mrs Winter’s death. They are there for everyone to see. There are five key recommendations, which the Health Minister has said, very clearly, will be implemented. As to where the blame was apportioned and where criticism was apportioned in the Coroner’s report, which has been the subject of intense debate and a censure motion yesterday, the Coroner has put out a media statement very recently, in the last half hour, and I quote from the statement from the Coroner. He says, very clearly:
Mr Elferink: Your department misled him, or tried to.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin is shouting while the Chief Minister is quoting from a media statement by the Coroner. He is interjecting - Standing Order 51.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, while volume is not actually part of the standing orders, it is quite difficult to hear the Chief Minister, who has the call. I would appreciate any interjections being somewhat quieter. Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is may be, again, to the member for Port Darwin, he was laughing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. The member for Port Darwin was laughing, Madam Speaker, as you were making that ruling. This is …
Mr Elferink: That is rubbish! Madam Speaker, that is an outrageous slur and I reject it outright.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Well, you were. You were laughing. I saw you.
Mr Elferink: I was laughing at her and her mean-spirited attitude.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, honourable members! Chief Minister, please resume your seat. Standing Order 51:
Honourable members, I have been unable to hear the Chief Minister who has the call. I would appreciate a much quieter level of interjections.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will go back to the Coroner’s statement which he put out around half-an-hour ago:
This is a statement from the Coroner today that very clearly states, in light of significant public debate over the last couple of days, that only one individual was subject to adverse criticism.
Regarding the systemic failings in regard to the rostering and apportion of nurses at Royal Darwin Hospital, the minister has accepted the findings of the Coroner and those findings will be implemented, as they should, and as I would expect as the Chief Minister. This has been a tragic death. It is the responsibility of the government and of the minister to implement the recommendations made by the Coroner. That is what we will do; that is what we have done.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The death of Mrs Margaret Winter was an absolute tragedy and the Coroner has conducted a rigorous investigation as to the causes and circumstances surrounding Mrs Winter’s death.
In regard to political debate in the Territory parliament back in 2007, the issues around the debate at that time surrounded an EBA that was currently being conducted between the Minister for Public Employment and the agency. That was very clearly where the debate was at that particular time.
If we are getting back to the tragic death of Mrs Margaret Winter, the Coroner went through a very thorough, independent, rigorous investigation as to the causes and circumstances of Mrs Winter’s death. They are there for everyone to see. There are five key recommendations, which the Health Minister has said, very clearly, will be implemented. As to where the blame was apportioned and where criticism was apportioned in the Coroner’s report, which has been the subject of intense debate and a censure motion yesterday, the Coroner has put out a media statement very recently, in the last half hour, and I quote from the statement from the Coroner. He says, very clearly:
- The Coroner does not comment on findings of inquests. The findings speak for themselves.
Mr Elferink: Your department misled him, or tried to.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin is shouting while the Chief Minister is quoting from a media statement by the Coroner. He is interjecting - Standing Order 51.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, while volume is not actually part of the standing orders, it is quite difficult to hear the Chief Minister, who has the call. I would appreciate any interjections being somewhat quieter. Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is may be, again, to the member for Port Darwin, he was laughing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. The member for Port Darwin was laughing, Madam Speaker, as you were making that ruling. This is …
Mr Elferink: That is rubbish! Madam Speaker, that is an outrageous slur and I reject it outright.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Well, you were. You were laughing. I saw you.
Mr Elferink: I was laughing at her and her mean-spirited attitude.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, honourable members! Chief Minister, please resume your seat. Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Honourable members, I have been unable to hear the Chief Minister who has the call. I would appreciate a much quieter level of interjections.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will go back to the Coroner’s statement which he put out around half-an-hour ago:
- The Coroner does not comment on findings of inquests. The findings speak for themselves. Only one individual was subjected to adverse criticism, and that is why he was asked to be separately represented and indeed was by Mr Peter Barr QC.
This is a statement from the Coroner today that very clearly states, in light of significant public debate over the last couple of days, that only one individual was subject to adverse criticism.
Regarding the systemic failings in regard to the rostering and apportion of nurses at Royal Darwin Hospital, the minister has accepted the findings of the Coroner and those findings will be implemented, as they should, and as I would expect as the Chief Minister. This has been a tragic death. It is the responsibility of the government and of the minister to implement the recommendations made by the Coroner. That is what we will do; that is what we have done.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016