LABOR WELCOMES AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORT

Media Release

Shadow Health Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, has welcomed the Auditor General’s report into irregularities in payments to some Senior Medical Officers.

“I welcome this report that covers the tenure of the former and current state governments,” Mrs Miller said.

 

“But I am concerned the Health Minister is trying to use its findings to apply more pressure on SMOs to sign the Newman Government’s WorkChoices-style employment contracts which threaten the viability of our entire hospital system."

 

“The Auditor-General has found that some SMOs have inadvertently been overpaid and some may have consciously sought personal gain through inadequately managed rosters or billing processes."  

 

“It is right that the CMC now looks at these issues and takes the necessary action and that if appropriate taxpayers should be reimbursed."

 

“If anyone has rorted the system they should face the consequences.”

 

Mrs Miller said it appeared problems may have arisen because of a lack of administrative oversight which was threatened by staff cuts imposed by Lawrence Springborg.

 

“Most doctors focus on their clinical duties, as they should and clearly our hospitals need sufficient administrative staff to ensure that clinical rosters are maintained, leave applications and billing of Medicare or private insurance companies are correctly processed,” she said.

 

“Sufficient administrative staff are needed to ensure compliance so I have concerns about how the system may work in light of the LNP’s staff cuts."

 

“The Minister needs to assure us that he has assigned sufficient staff to make sure nothing like these allegations surface again.”

 

Mrs Miller said Mr Springborg should not use the report and its findings to put even more pressure on SMOs to sign his WorkChoices contracts.

 

“The solution to these problems is not forcing SMOs on to grossly unfair individual Newman Government WorkChoices–style contracts,” she said. 

 

“This heavy-hand approach will drive much needed medical specialists out of our public hospitals and the system would then collapse.”