A parliamentary question regarding the potential privatisation of services at Albany Regional Hospital and the job security of its employees. The Minister's response outlines the consultation process and states that the government will ensure staff are not disadvantaged.

AnsweredQoN 88Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 March 2010
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

ALBANY REGIONAL HOSPITAL — PRIVATISED SERVICES
In light of the minister’s failure to answer this direct question last week, I ask — (1) Will the minister guarantee the salary, hours and entitlements of all employees whose positions are set to be privatised at Albany Regional Hospital? (2) If the minister cannot guarantee workers’ entitlements, what explanation can he give to the people of Albany to reassure them that they will get a fair deal when their jobs are sold? Dr K.D. HAMES

AnswerView source ↗

(1)–(2) I thought I did answer that question last week, but I will have — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
(1) Will the minister guarantee the salary, hours and entitlements of all employees whose positions are set to be privatised at Albany Regional Hospital? (2) If the minister cannot guarantee workers’ entitlements, what explanation can he give to the people of Albany to reassure them that they will get a fair deal when their jobs are sold? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) I thought I did answer that question last week, but I will have — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
(2) If the minister cannot guarantee workers’ entitlements, what explanation can he give to the people of Albany to reassure them that they will get a fair deal when their jobs are sold? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) I thought I did answer that question last week, but I will have — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(2) I thought I did answer that question last week, but I will have — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
(1)–(2) I thought I did answer that question last week, but I will have — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I thought it was pretty good, but I will have another try. Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.
Since I answered last, we have got information about how often the workers have been consulted during this process and it is quite often—the process has been made clear to them. We have gone out for expressions of interest for contracting out those back-of-house services in those hospitals and once we get those expressions of interest in, we will make a decision as a government on which ones we agree to proceed with. It may well be that it stays totally within the public sector with the existing staff still continuing to do their jobs, it may be that we will go totally to contract or it may be a mixture of the two. The Premier made it quite clear during his presentation to the people outside the house that where there is contracting out of services, the staff employed currently by government will not be disadvantaged.

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