Mr CONLAN - 2008-09-11
In early 2007, did not Professor Di Brown attempt to speak to you at the Rapid Creek Markets to tell you about the nurse staffing crisis facing the Royal Darwin Hospital? Did you not refuse to speak to Professor Di Brown and, instead, fobbed her off to one of your advisors? When Professor Brown saw your advisor at the Royal Darwin Hospital, seeking a meeting to provide you with such information about that nursing shortage, did not your office refuse to meet with Di Brown? Why did you refuse to meet with Professor Di Brown? Again, is this not proof of the culture of cover-up facing yourself and the Health Department?
ANSWER
It is a good question, Madam Speaker. As everyone knows, I go to the Rapid Creek Markets from 7 am until 12 noon every Sunday. A variety of people come to see me about a variety of things. In many cases, it is constituents coming to see me with issues as their local member, or as someone who may be able to help them. Other people come to see me with ministerial issues, and I appropriately say to them: ‘If it is a ministerial issue, you need to speak …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have given many reminders to members opposite about their shouting and interjections, and they continue to shout.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed they do. Under Standing Order 51, members will be on warnings for the next lot of interjections.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in answer to the question, I do not recall specifically meeting with Professor Brown. I meet with many people …
Members interjecting
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I would not …
Mr Westra van Holthe: You refused to meet with her. You ignored her.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Katherine!
Mr Bohlin: If you do not talk to people, why do you go to the markets?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you are on a warning.
Mr Chandler interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, you are on a warning.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I would not be so rude as to fob someone off at the markets. Everyone who meets me at the markets knows that I talk to and engage with people. I do not particularly remember what the member for Greatorex is referring to. People drop in and out all the time and say hello and whatever. I do not specifically remember what the member for Greatorex is referring to. I say that, all through the equation in terms of the nursing shortage at Royal Darwin Hospital …
Members interjecting.
Mr Westra van Holthe: She tried to tell you what was going on and you would not listen.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine, you are on a second warning. The next step is removal from the Chamber.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, what I am saying is, consistently, I have been advised that the nursing shortage …
Mr Tollner: Consistently, you have refused to listen.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: … at Royal Darwin Hospital was due to recruitment difficulties …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you are on a second warning.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, the nursing shortages at Royal Darwin Hospital were a result of problems with recruitment. As I said outside here today, I was angry when I read the report of the Coroner that there was an individual putting blocks in the way of nursing recruitment at Royal Darwin Hospital.
ANSWER
It is a good question, Madam Speaker. As everyone knows, I go to the Rapid Creek Markets from 7 am until 12 noon every Sunday. A variety of people come to see me about a variety of things. In many cases, it is constituents coming to see me with issues as their local member, or as someone who may be able to help them. Other people come to see me with ministerial issues, and I appropriately say to them: ‘If it is a ministerial issue, you need to speak …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have given many reminders to members opposite about their shouting and interjections, and they continue to shout.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed they do. Under Standing Order 51, members will be on warnings for the next lot of interjections.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in answer to the question, I do not recall specifically meeting with Professor Brown. I meet with many people …
Members interjecting
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I would not …
Mr Westra van Holthe: You refused to meet with her. You ignored her.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Katherine!
Mr Bohlin: If you do not talk to people, why do you go to the markets?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you are on a warning.
Mr Chandler interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, you are on a warning.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I would not be so rude as to fob someone off at the markets. Everyone who meets me at the markets knows that I talk to and engage with people. I do not particularly remember what the member for Greatorex is referring to. People drop in and out all the time and say hello and whatever. I do not specifically remember what the member for Greatorex is referring to. I say that, all through the equation in terms of the nursing shortage at Royal Darwin Hospital …
Members interjecting.
Mr Westra van Holthe: She tried to tell you what was going on and you would not listen.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine, you are on a second warning. The next step is removal from the Chamber.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, what I am saying is, consistently, I have been advised that the nursing shortage …
Mr Tollner: Consistently, you have refused to listen.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: … at Royal Darwin Hospital was due to recruitment difficulties …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you are on a second warning.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, the nursing shortages at Royal Darwin Hospital were a result of problems with recruitment. As I said outside here today, I was angry when I read the report of the Coroner that there was an individual putting blocks in the way of nursing recruitment at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016