❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Public Transport Authority's (PTA) handling of sick leave claims by railcar drivers on 24 September 2010, specifically regarding contact with doctors. The Minister denies direct contact with employees' personal doctors, but admits to sharing information with Medibank Health Solutions.
AnsweredQoN 817Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RAILCAR DRIVERS — SICK LEAVE
I refer to the minister’s answer to question without notice 813. (1) Has the Public Transport Authority made contact with any doctors who were not listed in the minister’s answer to part (3) of the question regarding the events of 24 September 2010? (2) Did the PTA contact the personal doctors of any of its employees? (3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
I refer to the minister’s answer to question without notice 813. (1) Has the Public Transport Authority made contact with any doctors who were not listed in the minister’s answer to part (3) of the question regarding the events of 24 September 2010? (2) Did the PTA contact the personal doctors of any of its employees? (3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Has the Public Transport Authority made contact with any doctors who were not listed in the minister’s answer to part (3) of the question regarding the events of 24 September 2010? (2) Did the PTA contact the personal doctors of any of its employees? (3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Did the PTA contact the personal doctors of any of its employees? (3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
(1) Has the Public Transport Authority made contact with any doctors who were not listed in the minister’s answer to part (3) of the question regarding the events of 24 September 2010? (2) Did the PTA contact the personal doctors of any of its employees? (3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Did the PTA contact the personal doctors of any of its employees? (3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (2) — (a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(a) why was this not disclosed in the minister’s answer to question without notice 813; (b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(b) which doctors has the PTA contacted; (c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(c) what was the purpose of the contact with these doctors; (d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(d) did the PTA issue any instructions to the doctors or provide information to them regarding their patients; and (e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(e) how did the PTA identify the doctors that it contacted? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(1) The Public Transport Authority has referred information to the chief medical officer of Medibank Health Solutions, a medical service under contract with the PTA, relating to the nature of various illnesses and injuries claimed by some PTA employees as the reason for their absence on 24 September 2010. That information was referred to Medibank Health Solutions to enable the PTA to seek medical advice about the extent to which a doctor would be likely to independently be able to verify that a person was genuinely ill or injured. This illness or injury would need to render the person unfit for work as a result of the nominated condition based on objectively observable symptoms, as opposed to being wholly or partly dependent on the patient’s self-report of his or her symptoms. That advice will be taken into account by the PTA when deciding whether and which additional claims for sick leave may be approved. (2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(2) The PTA advises that no employees’ doctors have been contacted. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
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