Mr ELFERINK - 2009-05-05
I refer to the minister’s repeated claim that most of the public sector employees are on the front line of service delivery. Today’s budget papers show that there are 555 new positions in the department of Health, yet you say in the newspaper today that there are only 170 doctors and nurses on the front line as a result of growth in Health last year. That means there are some 350-plus people unaccounted for. Are you really suggesting that the tea ladies are delivering health services in the Department of Health?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Once again, Standing Order 112 – an argument, an inference, an imputation. Once again the member for Port Darwin is abusing his rights at Question Time …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: I accept the criticism, Madam Speaker. I withdraw the question.
Minister, are you honestly attempting to convince Territorians that there are public servants with powers to diagnose illness, prescribe or administer medication? If not, why did you say that most of these public servants are on the front line?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, last week during the sittings, on a number occasions, different members of the opposition attacked the public service.
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is a very serious matter. Last week they attacked their credibility. This week they are attacking the individual jobs. What we have heard today in the budget is that the opposition would not go into deficit, in the biggest economic crisis in 75 years …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Of the 170 announced doctors, I just want to know, and it goes to relevance. There are 550 new public servants in Health, 170 are doctors and nurses. Where are the rest?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order. Minister, you have the call. Minister, have you completed your answer?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, what we heard today was that they would not go into deficit. Now, that is fine, but what that means is that the nurses, the doctors, the teachers, the child protection workers, the police, would not be there. They would not be there.
Mr Mills: Rubbish!
Mr KNIGHT: It is all right. If you do not want to go into deficit, that is fine. In the biggest economic crisis facing the world in 75 years this government has chosen deliberately to go into deficit to fund these key positions. We have an exit strategy with these deficits.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: We make no apologies for employing those people, no apologies whatsoever. We need those frontline workers. I was sitting next to a lady from Flinders University the other day …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It goes to relevance. The question is quite specific - 555 new public servants in Health, only 170 are doctors and nurses …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Leader of Government Business. Minister, would you come to your conclusion fairly soon, please.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I will just make two last points. One, I was sitting next to a lady who was doing study in the health area. She says the Territory’s health needs are equivalent to one million people because the health needs are so severe. We do not make any apologies for employing new ward clerks, new child protection workers, new patient assistants, and new allied health professionals. They are key positions. Every single one of them does a valuable job. We make no apologies and we will keep employing those people. The opposition would sack every single one of them.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Once again, Standing Order 112 – an argument, an inference, an imputation. Once again the member for Port Darwin is abusing his rights at Question Time …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: I accept the criticism, Madam Speaker. I withdraw the question.
Minister, are you honestly attempting to convince Territorians that there are public servants with powers to diagnose illness, prescribe or administer medication? If not, why did you say that most of these public servants are on the front line?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, last week during the sittings, on a number occasions, different members of the opposition attacked the public service.
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is a very serious matter. Last week they attacked their credibility. This week they are attacking the individual jobs. What we have heard today in the budget is that the opposition would not go into deficit, in the biggest economic crisis in 75 years …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Of the 170 announced doctors, I just want to know, and it goes to relevance. There are 550 new public servants in Health, 170 are doctors and nurses. Where are the rest?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order. Minister, you have the call. Minister, have you completed your answer?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, what we heard today was that they would not go into deficit. Now, that is fine, but what that means is that the nurses, the doctors, the teachers, the child protection workers, the police, would not be there. They would not be there.
Mr Mills: Rubbish!
Mr KNIGHT: It is all right. If you do not want to go into deficit, that is fine. In the biggest economic crisis facing the world in 75 years this government has chosen deliberately to go into deficit to fund these key positions. We have an exit strategy with these deficits.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: We make no apologies for employing those people, no apologies whatsoever. We need those frontline workers. I was sitting next to a lady from Flinders University the other day …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It goes to relevance. The question is quite specific - 555 new public servants in Health, only 170 are doctors and nurses …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Leader of Government Business. Minister, would you come to your conclusion fairly soon, please.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I will just make two last points. One, I was sitting next to a lady who was doing study in the health area. She says the Territory’s health needs are equivalent to one million people because the health needs are so severe. We do not make any apologies for employing new ward clerks, new child protection workers, new patient assistants, and new allied health professionals. They are key positions. Every single one of them does a valuable job. We make no apologies and we will keep employing those people. The opposition would sack every single one of them.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016