| JULY 2008 Pages - Page 4 |
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WHO's IN - WHO's OUT ???
CONSTITUTION ACT 1902
Ministerial Arrangements During the Absence of Minister for Lands, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for Regional Development
PURSUANT to section 36 of the Constitution Act 1902, Her Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has authorised the
Hon M. J. Brown, M.P., Minister for Housing and Minister for Tourism, as on and from 6 July 2008, with a view to his performing the duties of the
Honourable A. B. Kelly, M.L.C., during his absence from duty.
MORRIS IEMMA, M.P.,
Premier
2 July 2008.
SOURCE :
NSW Government Gazette , Appointments, Number 82, Week No. 27/2008 , Friday, 4 July 2008, p.6590
=================================================================================================================
CONSTITUTION ACT 1902
Ministerial Arrangements During the Absence of Minister for Lands, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for Regional Development
PURSUANT to section 36 of the Constitution Act 1902, Her Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has authorised the
Hon M. J. Brown, M.P., Minister for Housing and Minister for Tourism, as on and from 6 July 2008, with a view to his performing the duties of the
Honourable A. B. Kelly, M.L.C., during his absence from duty.
MORRIS IEMMA, M.P.,
Premier
2 July 2008.
SOURCE :
NSW Government Gazette , Appointments, Number 82, Week No. 27/2008 , Friday, 4 July 2008, p.6590
=================================================================================================================
FRED COMES TO IEMMA's AID - AGAIN
Tamworth based MLC Trevor Khan moved in Upper House :
1. That a select committee be appointed to inquire into and report on the effectiveness of current laws, practices and procedures in protecting
whistleblower employees who make allegations against government officials and members of Parliament, but not in relation to actual or alleged
conduct of any particular person which involves matters which are the sole cognisance of the Legislative Assembly.
2. That, notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders, the committee consist of six members, comprising:
(a) two Government members,
(b) two Opposition members, and
(c) two crossbench members.
3. That, notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders, at any meeting of the committee, any four members of the committee will
constitute a quorum.
4. That the committee report by the first sitting day in September 2008.
BUT Fred Nile MLC wasn't happy with the idea entirely. He wanted to save public money. He wanted a committee that both Upper and Lower
House members served on. Fred thought the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption was ideally placed to achieve these
objectives, rather than setting up an entirely new committee. So Fred moved the motion be changed so it would read -
1. That the committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption which is a joint statutory committee inquire into and report
on the effectiveness of current laws, practices and procedures in protecting whistleblower employees who make allegations against
government officials and members of Parliament .
2. That this House requests the Legislative Assembly to agree to a similar resolution.
With the support of Labor MLC's, Fred's motion was adopted at 3.17pm on 26 June 2008.
At 4.10pm that day the motion arrived in Lower House.
Adrian Piccolo MP (Murrumbidgee) gave a little background to the motion :
Government members know what this inquiry is about. The Opposition sought to establish an inquiry in the upper House, where the Government
does not have the numbers. However, Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile and members of the Shooters Party lent their support to the Government and
the matter will now be referred to a joint committee—a committee comprising both Government and Opposition members—where the Government
has the numbers.
.......
Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile and the two members of the Shooters Party supported this reference to the Committee on the Independent
Commission Against Corruption and that committee, with a majority of Government members, will now inquire into what happened to Mrs
Snedden. I cannot believe that a minister of religion would lend support to such a motion. One of the victims who suffered at the hands of Mr
Orkopoulos wanted an upper House inquiry.
Jillian Snedden, Bryce Gaudry and the brother of Milton Orkopoulos also wanted this inquiry to be conducted independently by an upper House
committee, where the two major parties do not have a majority. They wanted this inquiry to be independent and to be run properly. Will the
Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption call the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Grove, the member for Riverstone
and former Speaker, Mr John Aquilina, and the current Speaker, Mr Richard Torbay, to give evidence? The challenge for that committee is to call
those people to give evidence. Members of the Legislative Assembly will be able to take part in the inquiry before the joint committee.
Fred's amended motion was passed in Lower House.
The Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption comprises :-
The numbers are thus :
* ALP - 6
* Lib-Nat - 4
^ Christian Democrats - 1.
THUS the ALP does not even need to rely upon a casting vote of the Chair to get motions passed.
What hope that anything beneficial will come out of this inquiry ?
SOURCES :
NSW LC Hansard , Inquiry into the Protection of Public Sector Whistleblower Employees , 26 June 2008.
NSW LA Hansard , Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption , 26 June 2008 .
Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption page , NSW Parliament website .
Addendum :
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN FREDDY
WHAT a friend we have in Freddy, all our bills and laws to pass
What a privilege to take everything, to Fred in Upper House
Oh what battles we might loose, oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not take our Bills to Fred in Upper House.
Have we problems with numbers? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged , take it to Fred in Upper House, .
Can we find a friend so faithful , who will sit and apologize for us in inquiries ,
Freddy knows our political weakness; take it to Fred in Upper House.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a base load station?
Precious 43 thousand is our price, give it to Fred in Upper House .
Do the Left and Unions despise, forsake us ? Take it to Fred in Upper House !
In the assistant’s chair he’ll support us, we will find an aye vote there.
Blessed Freddy, We are depending for the honour bestowed upon you
That we may forever, bring our bills and laws to you in Upper House.
Soon in retirement on higher pension, there will be no visits to Upper House,
Rapture, praise and extra cash, will be your sweet reward from us.
see : NSW LABOR'S DAILY HYMN , June 2008 page 11,
The Morriston Tabernacle Choir, Swansea, Wales sing the original
song at YouTube -[ ONLINE .]
==================================================================================================================================
Tamworth based MLC Trevor Khan moved in Upper House :
1. That a select committee be appointed to inquire into and report on the effectiveness of current laws, practices and procedures in protecting
whistleblower employees who make allegations against government officials and members of Parliament, but not in relation to actual or alleged
conduct of any particular person which involves matters which are the sole cognisance of the Legislative Assembly.
2. That, notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders, the committee consist of six members, comprising:
(a) two Government members,
(b) two Opposition members, and
(c) two crossbench members.
3. That, notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders, at any meeting of the committee, any four members of the committee will
constitute a quorum.
4. That the committee report by the first sitting day in September 2008.
BUT Fred Nile MLC wasn't happy with the idea entirely. He wanted to save public money. He wanted a committee that both Upper and Lower
House members served on. Fred thought the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption was ideally placed to achieve these
objectives, rather than setting up an entirely new committee. So Fred moved the motion be changed so it would read -
1. That the committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption which is a joint statutory committee inquire into and report
on the effectiveness of current laws, practices and procedures in protecting whistleblower employees who make allegations against
government officials and members of Parliament .
2. That this House requests the Legislative Assembly to agree to a similar resolution.
With the support of Labor MLC's, Fred's motion was adopted at 3.17pm on 26 June 2008.
At 4.10pm that day the motion arrived in Lower House.
Adrian Piccolo MP (Murrumbidgee) gave a little background to the motion :
Government members know what this inquiry is about. The Opposition sought to establish an inquiry in the upper House, where the Government
does not have the numbers. However, Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile and members of the Shooters Party lent their support to the Government and
the matter will now be referred to a joint committee—a committee comprising both Government and Opposition members—where the Government
has the numbers.
.......
Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile and the two members of the Shooters Party supported this reference to the Committee on the Independent
Commission Against Corruption and that committee, with a majority of Government members, will now inquire into what happened to Mrs
Snedden. I cannot believe that a minister of religion would lend support to such a motion. One of the victims who suffered at the hands of Mr
Orkopoulos wanted an upper House inquiry.
Jillian Snedden, Bryce Gaudry and the brother of Milton Orkopoulos also wanted this inquiry to be conducted independently by an upper House
committee, where the two major parties do not have a majority. They wanted this inquiry to be independent and to be run properly. Will the
Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption call the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Grove, the member for Riverstone
and former Speaker, Mr John Aquilina, and the current Speaker, Mr Richard Torbay, to give evidence? The challenge for that committee is to call
those people to give evidence. Members of the Legislative Assembly will be able to take part in the inquiry before the joint committee.
Fred's amended motion was passed in Lower House.
The Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption comprises :-
- Chairperson: Frank Terenzini MP. (Maitland - ALP)
- Deputy Chair: David Harris MP. (Wyong - ALP)
- Robert Coombs MP (Swansea - ALP)
- Jodi McKay MP (Newcastle - ALP)
- Lylea McMahon MP (Shellharbour - ALP)
- Jonathan O'Dea MP (Davidson - Lib, LA)
- Rob Stokes MP (Pittwater - Lib)
- John Turner MP (Myall Lakes - Nat)
- Hon. John Ajaka MLC (Lib)
- Hon. Greg Donnelly MLC (ALP)
- Rev. the Hon. Fred Nile MLC (Christian Democrats)
The numbers are thus :
* ALP - 6
* Lib-Nat - 4
^ Christian Democrats - 1.
THUS the ALP does not even need to rely upon a casting vote of the Chair to get motions passed.
What hope that anything beneficial will come out of this inquiry ?
SOURCES :
NSW LC Hansard , Inquiry into the Protection of Public Sector Whistleblower Employees , 26 June 2008.
NSW LA Hansard , Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption , 26 June 2008 .
Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption page , NSW Parliament website .
Addendum :
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN FREDDY
WHAT a friend we have in Freddy, all our bills and laws to pass
What a privilege to take everything, to Fred in Upper House
Oh what battles we might loose, oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not take our Bills to Fred in Upper House.
Have we problems with numbers? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged , take it to Fred in Upper House, .
Can we find a friend so faithful , who will sit and apologize for us in inquiries ,
Freddy knows our political weakness; take it to Fred in Upper House.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a base load station?
Precious 43 thousand is our price, give it to Fred in Upper House .
Do the Left and Unions despise, forsake us ? Take it to Fred in Upper House !
In the assistant’s chair he’ll support us, we will find an aye vote there.
Blessed Freddy, We are depending for the honour bestowed upon you
That we may forever, bring our bills and laws to you in Upper House.
Soon in retirement on higher pension, there will be no visits to Upper House,
Rapture, praise and extra cash, will be your sweet reward from us.
see : NSW LABOR'S DAILY HYMN , June 2008 page 11,
The Morriston Tabernacle Choir, Swansea, Wales sing the original
song at YouTube -[ ONLINE .]
==================================================================================================================================
THE DITHERER DOESN'T GET IT
Premier Morris Iemma just doesn't get it.
Most people couldn't care less about WYD, the Pope's visit or a little bit of
inconvenience caused by traffic closures etc (unless they are suffering it
directly).
BUT by clamping down on "protest" and free speech his government has
unified people - not to protest the Pope's visit or the extra-ordinary waste of
government money on the event - but the Iemma government's attack on
freedom of speech and civil liberties.
With the Olympic Games people tolerated all the "security measures" - it was a world event in which anyone (subject to having sufficient sporting
prowess) could participate.
APEC 2007 demonstrated how far the Iemma government was prepared to go to trample on civil liberties. BUT once again people grudgingly
accepted it. IT was a meeting of world leaders, which didn't discriminate on the basis of anything other than belonging to the APEC organisation.
However, the ugly face of draconian laws was illustrated with an over the top police presence, the water cannon, the removal of police badges
etc. AND once again, it was probably only the 'professional protesters' who were expected to be detrimentally affected. BUT they weren't. We saw
vicious treatment metered out to 'ordinary' innocent bystanders and the aggressive treatment of people who happened to be in the area because
they wanted to go shopping at David Jones for the day.
NOW come July 2008 and unlike the Olympics - there is no groundswell of support for an event that discriminates on the basis of religion. That
the Iemma government expected a similar public approval, as that of the Olympic Games, shows just how out of touch it is. My grandmother
always told me it was improper to discuss religion, sex or politics in polite company - and whilst I don't necessarily subscribe to her theory, I
understand her point.
BUT then to introduce additional laws at the last minute - the "annoying" law - was an act of political stupidity .
IT is the one thing that has unified people - to reclaim their civil liberties which have been gradually eroded. There are 2 things at work here -
first, the regularity with which draconian laws are being applied. Frankly, people are over it !!!
Secondly - WYD is not an event everyone feels a part of. It is for a religious denomination. It is also being perceived as restricted to "youth". IT is
not seen as an inclusive event.
The Bible says something like : You shall reap as you sow.
The Iemma government is now harvesting discontent - and it's a bumper crop.
Additional Reading :
Linda Morris , US struggles to meet the mark for pilgrims , Sydney Morning Herald, 4 July 2008,
WYD organisers 'didn't ask for rules' , Sydney Morning Herald, 2 July 2008.
Daniel Emerson , 'Annoy' squad's pre-emptive strike , Sydney Morning Herald, 4 July 2008.
ABC News, Police investigate WYD queer kiss-in , 4 July 2008 .
Christian Taylor, Catholics Living In Fools' Paradise , same.same.com.au, 1 July 2008.
The NoToPope Coalition rally , same.same. com.au , NOON - Saturday 19 July 2008 @ Taylor Square.
Pope Alice's ‘Kiss In’ , same.same.com.au ,- 3pm - Saturday 19 July 2008 @ Taylor Square.
Katrina Fox , Uproar over Pope protests , SX , 2 July 2008.
Ean Higgins , Rebels owe their swollen numbers to nuisance laws , The Australian, 5 July 2008.
Emily Dunn and Elicia Murray , Lady pope will hear your sins , Stay In Touch, SMH, 4 July 2008.
Business fears massive losses during WYD :
Julian Lee, Joel Gibson and Jano Gibson , Shops fear losses from youth day , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
Conceptual Problems with WYD
Chris McGillion , Mixed message on faith a turn-off , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
Anger directed towards Iemma rises :
Michael Duffy, Church caught in crossfire of public's unholy war , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
ABC Radio, Gay groups under WYD policing scrutiny , AM Program, 4 July 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Premier Morris Iemma just doesn't get it.
Most people couldn't care less about WYD, the Pope's visit or a little bit of
inconvenience caused by traffic closures etc (unless they are suffering it
directly).
BUT by clamping down on "protest" and free speech his government has
unified people - not to protest the Pope's visit or the extra-ordinary waste of
government money on the event - but the Iemma government's attack on
freedom of speech and civil liberties.
With the Olympic Games people tolerated all the "security measures" - it was a world event in which anyone (subject to having sufficient sporting
prowess) could participate.
APEC 2007 demonstrated how far the Iemma government was prepared to go to trample on civil liberties. BUT once again people grudgingly
accepted it. IT was a meeting of world leaders, which didn't discriminate on the basis of anything other than belonging to the APEC organisation.
However, the ugly face of draconian laws was illustrated with an over the top police presence, the water cannon, the removal of police badges
etc. AND once again, it was probably only the 'professional protesters' who were expected to be detrimentally affected. BUT they weren't. We saw
vicious treatment metered out to 'ordinary' innocent bystanders and the aggressive treatment of people who happened to be in the area because
they wanted to go shopping at David Jones for the day.
NOW come July 2008 and unlike the Olympics - there is no groundswell of support for an event that discriminates on the basis of religion. That
the Iemma government expected a similar public approval, as that of the Olympic Games, shows just how out of touch it is. My grandmother
always told me it was improper to discuss religion, sex or politics in polite company - and whilst I don't necessarily subscribe to her theory, I
understand her point.
BUT then to introduce additional laws at the last minute - the "annoying" law - was an act of political stupidity .
IT is the one thing that has unified people - to reclaim their civil liberties which have been gradually eroded. There are 2 things at work here -
first, the regularity with which draconian laws are being applied. Frankly, people are over it !!!
Secondly - WYD is not an event everyone feels a part of. It is for a religious denomination. It is also being perceived as restricted to "youth". IT is
not seen as an inclusive event.
The Bible says something like : You shall reap as you sow.
The Iemma government is now harvesting discontent - and it's a bumper crop.
Additional Reading :
Linda Morris , US struggles to meet the mark for pilgrims , Sydney Morning Herald, 4 July 2008,
WYD organisers 'didn't ask for rules' , Sydney Morning Herald, 2 July 2008.
Daniel Emerson , 'Annoy' squad's pre-emptive strike , Sydney Morning Herald, 4 July 2008.
ABC News, Police investigate WYD queer kiss-in , 4 July 2008 .
Christian Taylor, Catholics Living In Fools' Paradise , same.same.com.au, 1 July 2008.
The NoToPope Coalition rally , same.same. com.au , NOON - Saturday 19 July 2008 @ Taylor Square.
Pope Alice's ‘Kiss In’ , same.same.com.au ,- 3pm - Saturday 19 July 2008 @ Taylor Square.
Katrina Fox , Uproar over Pope protests , SX , 2 July 2008.
Ean Higgins , Rebels owe their swollen numbers to nuisance laws , The Australian, 5 July 2008.
Emily Dunn and Elicia Murray , Lady pope will hear your sins , Stay In Touch, SMH, 4 July 2008.
Business fears massive losses during WYD :
Julian Lee, Joel Gibson and Jano Gibson , Shops fear losses from youth day , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
Conceptual Problems with WYD
Chris McGillion , Mixed message on faith a turn-off , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
Anger directed towards Iemma rises :
Michael Duffy, Church caught in crossfire of public's unholy war , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
ABC Radio, Gay groups under WYD policing scrutiny , AM Program, 4 July 2008.
=================================================================================================================
WHO GUARDS THE GUARDS ???
Sensational claims made by Ray Younan are a worry. IF true they are devastating.
No doubt some would say he has been convicted as a conman - and therefore his claims can be ignored.
WE prefer to remain open-minded. WE are not advocates of "shoot the messenger". WE prefer to look at the message (irrespective of who is
delivering it). SO - someone must examine his claims to see whether they are supported by any corroborating evidence. Certainly such claims
must be taken seriously and not just dismissed out of hand because of the messenger.
SOURCES :
Jason Koutsoukis and Andrew Clenell , Conman in Valley of the Saints , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
ABC News, Greens call for Royal Commission into NSW development process , 6 July 2008.
=================================================================================================================
Sensational claims made by Ray Younan are a worry. IF true they are devastating.
No doubt some would say he has been convicted as a conman - and therefore his claims can be ignored.
WE prefer to remain open-minded. WE are not advocates of "shoot the messenger". WE prefer to look at the message (irrespective of who is
delivering it). SO - someone must examine his claims to see whether they are supported by any corroborating evidence. Certainly such claims
must be taken seriously and not just dismissed out of hand because of the messenger.
SOURCES :
Jason Koutsoukis and Andrew Clenell , Conman in Valley of the Saints , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
ABC News, Greens call for Royal Commission into NSW development process , 6 July 2008.
=================================================================================================================
ANOTHER IEMMA MINISTER FALLS UNDER THE SPELL OF SECRECY
Matthew Moore writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that :
On the North Coast, the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, under its minister,
Verity Firth, has reversed the long-standing practice of releasing details about logging operations
on private land.
The question has to be : What are they frightened of ?
SOURCE :
Matthew Moore, Bureaucrats take axe to logging data , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
==================================================================================================================
Matthew Moore writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that :
On the North Coast, the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, under its minister,
Verity Firth, has reversed the long-standing practice of releasing details about logging operations
on private land.
The question has to be : What are they frightened of ?
SOURCE :
Matthew Moore, Bureaucrats take axe to logging data , Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2008.
==================================================================================================================
SQUEAKY WHEELS GET THE OIL
On Thursday 26 June 2008 Dorrigo's only full-time doctor, Dr Horst Herb went "on-strike".
In a media release Dr Herb said :
Dorrigo is a small rural community, semi-isolated from the nearest urban centre Coffs Harbour
because of a steep mountain road in appalling condition. I am the only full time doctor there,
looking after some 3,800 patients together with a female part time colleague.
When I took over the practice 6 years ago, the town had been without a doctor for 6 months.
Because of the tyrrany of the distance, people all too often did not attend medical services far
away but rather accepted neglect of their chronic and sometimes acute illness. As a consequence,
the state of health of diabetics, asthmatics, chronic kidney disease, or people with cardiovascular
disease etc was catastrophic and we were swamped with the consequences in the emergency
department and with emergency admissions.
I believe we managed to restore the public health situation to a state comparable with the
average urban population if not better. Emergency admissions or consultations for derailed
chronic disease are now very rare, and even progress of such disease has become uncommon.
However, this was achieved at the cost of the doctor’s private lifes and health. Last month alone
for example, I logged 378 hours on call, and rarely a night I get home before 8 p.m., often only
much later. Many days we don’t get a lunch break before 2 p.m. The few moments that may
appear as time off to outsiders are in reality spent with tackling the tons of paperwork we are
burdened with. This cannot continue like that forever. I should have realized when I could not
attend my mother’s funeral overseas because I could not find a locum in time. Our marriages suffer,
we neglect our children, and worrying about this distracts us from our medical work where any
distraction or lack of mental focus could result in loss of life or limb.
In February we managed to recruit a most competent doctor prepared to move to our town with his family - after trying for nearly 6 years. Doctors
having the right mix of skills as well as the willingness to move to a small country town are extremely rare. It took two months until this rare gem
could be assessed by the Medical Board which confirmed that his knowlegde and skills including communication skills were adequate for the
position. This came as no surprise since he had been working in the Australian hospital system for more than 6 years, and performed very well
according to his supervisors. So why is he not working yet?
He was trained overseas. No matter that he has been Australian citizen for 6 years, no matter that he performed well for 6 years in major
Australian hospitals (he became “registrar of the year” in a major Sydney teaching hospital!), no matter that the medical board assessed his
professional and communication skills as satisfactory - the bureaucracy responsible for registration insists he has to pass an English test first with
marks that many Australian HSC students would not be able to achieve (A minimum of band 7 (out of 9) in each of all four subtests). These
bureaucrats basically state that if this most competent doctors commits a few spelling errors in an English test he cannot practice in our
community (but can continue practising in the hospital system in critical care where he works now). They deem it more important to stick to poorly
thought through rules to the letter than putting my whole community at risk of losing medical services - and this they will.
When we appealed that requirement we were told that they will discuss an exemption on the 18th of June, so we waited some more, all of us
getting desperate. So what was the decision? To procrastinate some more, and wait again until the 2nd of July. And no guarantees that a
decision will be made then. And even if he got the exemption, the insane bureaucratic process of getting a Medicare provider number for an
overseas trained doctor would have barely started - we would be looking at at least another 2 months of piles of paperwork and procrastinating
bureaucrats who seem to have no other purpose in life than to delay progress and make our lives difficult.
Both my part time colleague and I have decided that we cannot sustain our current pace without help any more. Six years of working far beyond
our duty and possibly beyond human capability are enough. Sacrificing our personal life for the need of the community at large is only fair
enough as long as there is genuine need - but if this situation is created artificially by a cruel, inefficient, and inflexible bureaucracy we can’t see
the point any more. We will now do as the bureaucrats do - work 5 days a week, 9 to 5, with regular lunch breaks and even holidays.
Emergencies 9 to 5 only, please. However, we still feel like human beings and will not display the same callous disregard for the needs of others
as the bureaucracy does - if we happen to be in town we will still attend life threatening emergencies regardless of time of day or personal
commitments .
ON 2 JULY 2008 the new doctor was registered.
This prompted Dr Herb to tell ABC News :
"It's happening all over the place, it's just most doctors still get bogged down with their work and put up with the situation and never
really dare to do what we finally did. But I think more doctors should do as we do so the system as a whole gets changed."
SOURCES :
Greg McLagan, Health crisis in Dorrigo , Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun, 1 July 2008.
ABC NEWS, Striking Dorrigo GP wins fight for second doctor , 3 July 2008.
ABC News , Doctor strikes over Dorrigo GP shortage , 27 June 2008.
ABC News, Dorrigo GP continues strike , 1 July 2008.
On Thursday 26 June 2008 Dorrigo's only full-time doctor, Dr Horst Herb went "on-strike".
In a media release Dr Herb said :
Dorrigo is a small rural community, semi-isolated from the nearest urban centre Coffs Harbour
because of a steep mountain road in appalling condition. I am the only full time doctor there,
looking after some 3,800 patients together with a female part time colleague.
When I took over the practice 6 years ago, the town had been without a doctor for 6 months.
Because of the tyrrany of the distance, people all too often did not attend medical services far
away but rather accepted neglect of their chronic and sometimes acute illness. As a consequence,
the state of health of diabetics, asthmatics, chronic kidney disease, or people with cardiovascular
disease etc was catastrophic and we were swamped with the consequences in the emergency
department and with emergency admissions.
I believe we managed to restore the public health situation to a state comparable with the
average urban population if not better. Emergency admissions or consultations for derailed
chronic disease are now very rare, and even progress of such disease has become uncommon.
However, this was achieved at the cost of the doctor’s private lifes and health. Last month alone
for example, I logged 378 hours on call, and rarely a night I get home before 8 p.m., often only
much later. Many days we don’t get a lunch break before 2 p.m. The few moments that may
appear as time off to outsiders are in reality spent with tackling the tons of paperwork we are
burdened with. This cannot continue like that forever. I should have realized when I could not
attend my mother’s funeral overseas because I could not find a locum in time. Our marriages suffer,
we neglect our children, and worrying about this distracts us from our medical work where any
distraction or lack of mental focus could result in loss of life or limb.
In February we managed to recruit a most competent doctor prepared to move to our town with his family - after trying for nearly 6 years. Doctors
having the right mix of skills as well as the willingness to move to a small country town are extremely rare. It took two months until this rare gem
could be assessed by the Medical Board which confirmed that his knowlegde and skills including communication skills were adequate for the
position. This came as no surprise since he had been working in the Australian hospital system for more than 6 years, and performed very well
according to his supervisors. So why is he not working yet?
He was trained overseas. No matter that he has been Australian citizen for 6 years, no matter that he performed well for 6 years in major
Australian hospitals (he became “registrar of the year” in a major Sydney teaching hospital!), no matter that the medical board assessed his
professional and communication skills as satisfactory - the bureaucracy responsible for registration insists he has to pass an English test first with
marks that many Australian HSC students would not be able to achieve (A minimum of band 7 (out of 9) in each of all four subtests). These
bureaucrats basically state that if this most competent doctors commits a few spelling errors in an English test he cannot practice in our
community (but can continue practising in the hospital system in critical care where he works now). They deem it more important to stick to poorly
thought through rules to the letter than putting my whole community at risk of losing medical services - and this they will.
When we appealed that requirement we were told that they will discuss an exemption on the 18th of June, so we waited some more, all of us
getting desperate. So what was the decision? To procrastinate some more, and wait again until the 2nd of July. And no guarantees that a
decision will be made then. And even if he got the exemption, the insane bureaucratic process of getting a Medicare provider number for an
overseas trained doctor would have barely started - we would be looking at at least another 2 months of piles of paperwork and procrastinating
bureaucrats who seem to have no other purpose in life than to delay progress and make our lives difficult.
Both my part time colleague and I have decided that we cannot sustain our current pace without help any more. Six years of working far beyond
our duty and possibly beyond human capability are enough. Sacrificing our personal life for the need of the community at large is only fair
enough as long as there is genuine need - but if this situation is created artificially by a cruel, inefficient, and inflexible bureaucracy we can’t see
the point any more. We will now do as the bureaucrats do - work 5 days a week, 9 to 5, with regular lunch breaks and even holidays.
Emergencies 9 to 5 only, please. However, we still feel like human beings and will not display the same callous disregard for the needs of others
as the bureaucracy does - if we happen to be in town we will still attend life threatening emergencies regardless of time of day or personal
commitments .
ON 2 JULY 2008 the new doctor was registered.
This prompted Dr Herb to tell ABC News :
"It's happening all over the place, it's just most doctors still get bogged down with their work and put up with the situation and never
really dare to do what we finally did. But I think more doctors should do as we do so the system as a whole gets changed."
SOURCES :
Greg McLagan, Health crisis in Dorrigo , Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun, 1 July 2008.
ABC NEWS, Striking Dorrigo GP wins fight for second doctor , 3 July 2008.
ABC News , Doctor strikes over Dorrigo GP shortage , 27 June 2008.
ABC News, Dorrigo GP continues strike , 1 July 2008.
