❓ Ms Mettam's supplementary question challenges the Minister for Health's credibility regarding health worker confidence, citing the Premier's dismissal of concerns and rising burnout. The Minister's response deflects by criticising the Liberal-National government's past record on health worker conditions.
AnsweredQoN 242Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Junior doctors
242. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. How can health
workers have confidence in the minister's spin when the Premier has already
dismissed those concerns, with burnout going up under the minister's watch?
242. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. How can health
workers have confidence in the minister's spin when the Premier has already
dismissed those concerns, with burnout going up under the minister's watch?
AnswerView source ↗
I will tell members
what health workers do not believe, and that is that a Liberal–National
government would do anything to improve their working conditions.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: I can tell members that they will
not fall for that. When we last had a Liberal–National government—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: When we last had a
Liberal–National government, it was pretty clear.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are touchy, aren't they!
The Speaker: Members, when you are finished. Member
for Carine, thank you.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, this is not
your question. The minister is responding to the member for Vasse's question.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are very touchy on their
track record from when they were in government because it speaks for itself.
What did they do? They casualised the workforce. They put them on contracts. They
contracted them out.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Ms Meredith Hammat: They gave their jobs away. That is
what they did when they were last in.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I am calling you
for the third time.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We, the Cook Labor government,
take our relationship with our workforce seriously, and that is why we work
very closely with unions and the Australian Medical Association. We keep
looking at how we can get great outcomes for our junior doctors because they
are the future of our health system. We will continue to do that important
work. We will continue to talk to the unions. We will continue to meet with
them to understand their needs, and we will continue to deliver enterprise
bargaining outcomes that meet their needs and support the work that we want
them to do.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. That concludes
question time.
what health workers do not believe, and that is that a Liberal–National
government would do anything to improve their working conditions.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: I can tell members that they will
not fall for that. When we last had a Liberal–National government—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: When we last had a
Liberal–National government, it was pretty clear.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are touchy, aren't they!
The Speaker: Members, when you are finished. Member
for Carine, thank you.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, this is not
your question. The minister is responding to the member for Vasse's question.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are very touchy on their
track record from when they were in government because it speaks for itself.
What did they do? They casualised the workforce. They put them on contracts. They
contracted them out.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Ms Meredith Hammat: They gave their jobs away. That is
what they did when they were last in.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I am calling you
for the third time.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We, the Cook Labor government,
take our relationship with our workforce seriously, and that is why we work
very closely with unions and the Australian Medical Association. We keep
looking at how we can get great outcomes for our junior doctors because they
are the future of our health system. We will continue to do that important
work. We will continue to talk to the unions. We will continue to meet with
them to understand their needs, and we will continue to deliver enterprise
bargaining outcomes that meet their needs and support the work that we want
them to do.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. That concludes
question time.
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