❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding job cuts at Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals, specifically seeking reassurance that permanent and long-term contract staff will not be affected. The Minister's response focuses on the definition of 'permanent contract staff' and refers to advice received from health service executives.
AnsweredQoN 84Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS —
STAFFING
84. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer the Minister for Health to the job cuts of 258
full-time equivalent staff at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park
Hospital and his assertion on Tuesday that no permanent or long-term staff will
lose their jobs.
(1) Will the
minister reaffirm today that no permanent or long-term contract staff will be
subject to these measures?
(2) If so,
will he please explain his position to the executive director, Robyn Lawrence,
who has explicitly explained to staff that until she hears from the minister
otherwise, all staff will be impacted by these cuts, not just short-term or
fixed-term contract staff as he claimed on Tuesday?
STAFFING
84. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer the Minister for Health to the job cuts of 258
full-time equivalent staff at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park
Hospital and his assertion on Tuesday that no permanent or long-term staff will
lose their jobs.
(1) Will the
minister reaffirm today that no permanent or long-term contract staff will be
subject to these measures?
(2) If so,
will he please explain his position to the executive director, Robyn Lawrence,
who has explicitly explained to staff that until she hears from the minister
otherwise, all staff will be impacted by these cuts, not just short-term or
fixed-term contract staff as he claimed on Tuesday?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I do not think there is such a thing as
permanent contract staff. My understanding is that —
Mr R.H. Cook :
Permanent and long-term contract, you said!
Dr K.D. HAMES : Is
there any such thing as a permanent contract person?
Mr R.H. Cook :
Permanent and long-term contract!
The SPEAKER :
Through the Chair, Minister.
Dr K.D. HAMES : By
definition, Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES : My
understanding is that someone who is on a contract is on a contract for the
term of the contract; so that does not make them permanent.
Mr R.H. Cook :
Long-term contract! You said ''short-term contract'' on Tuesday!
Dr K.D. HAMES : Mr
Speaker —
The SPEAKER : Just
hold it. Right, minister, address yourself through the Chair. If the member for
Kwinana wants to ask a supplementary question, he can ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : If
I could follow one of the rulings of one of the Acting Speakers yesterday, Mr
Speaker, I can decline to take interjections; then I will not have any!
Therefore, I decline interjections, Mr Speaker.
I am not aware that someone employed on a contract is a
permanent employee. They are there for that contract.
Mr R.H. Cook : You
know the question!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana!
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
think the member needs to talk to an Acting Speaker from yesterday. That
contract is for the term of the contract. There is no intention to shorten
someone's contract. We have permanent staff who are not on a contract,
and there is no intention to get rid of those staff. Whatever —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order! Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Dr K.D. HAMES : All
I can do is pass on the advice that has been given to me directly by the
director general and through him, by the chief executive for the North
Metropolitan Health Service who says that the only people who will be losing
their positions over that time, over the next six to eight months, are those
who have a contract that comes to a conclusion during that time, or those who
retire. That is the advice I received and I only have the member's word
for anything said to the contrary. However, clearly that person will need to
approach those who are actually responsible for their employment—that
is, the director general, who is delegated by the minister to manage staff in
this state.
permanent contract staff. My understanding is that —
Mr R.H. Cook :
Permanent and long-term contract, you said!
Dr K.D. HAMES : Is
there any such thing as a permanent contract person?
Mr R.H. Cook :
Permanent and long-term contract!
The SPEAKER :
Through the Chair, Minister.
Dr K.D. HAMES : By
definition, Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES : My
understanding is that someone who is on a contract is on a contract for the
term of the contract; so that does not make them permanent.
Mr R.H. Cook :
Long-term contract! You said ''short-term contract'' on Tuesday!
Dr K.D. HAMES : Mr
Speaker —
The SPEAKER : Just
hold it. Right, minister, address yourself through the Chair. If the member for
Kwinana wants to ask a supplementary question, he can ask a supplementary question.
Dr K.D. HAMES : If
I could follow one of the rulings of one of the Acting Speakers yesterday, Mr
Speaker, I can decline to take interjections; then I will not have any!
Therefore, I decline interjections, Mr Speaker.
I am not aware that someone employed on a contract is a
permanent employee. They are there for that contract.
Mr R.H. Cook : You
know the question!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana!
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
think the member needs to talk to an Acting Speaker from yesterday. That
contract is for the term of the contract. There is no intention to shorten
someone's contract. We have permanent staff who are not on a contract,
and there is no intention to get rid of those staff. Whatever —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order! Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the first time.
Dr K.D. HAMES : All
I can do is pass on the advice that has been given to me directly by the
director general and through him, by the chief executive for the North
Metropolitan Health Service who says that the only people who will be losing
their positions over that time, over the next six to eight months, are those
who have a contract that comes to a conclusion during that time, or those who
retire. That is the advice I received and I only have the member's word
for anything said to the contrary. However, clearly that person will need to
approach those who are actually responsible for their employment—that
is, the director general, who is delegated by the minister to manage staff in
this state.
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