9 Nov 2000 Legislative Assembly 4149 THURSDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2000 Mr SPEAKER: The Minister will come to the matter of privilege. Mrs EDMOND: I understand that the nursing shortage in Victoria is so severe that Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) hospitals were forced to cancel all elective read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. surgery for several weeks. That is something that I would be very reluctant to undertake, PRIVILEGE although I am aware of the disappointment for patients who have been affected by these Member for Maroochydore shortages. A recent edition of A Current Affair Hon. W. M. EDMOND (Mount Coot-tha— on the nursing shortage highlighted Victoria's ALP) (Minister for Health) (9.30 a.m.): I rise on tactics of poaching nurses from Queensland, a point of privilege. On 4BC Radio this morning but Queensland was highlighted as the the member for Maroochydore called me leading State in implementing long-term dishonest in relation to ICU beds and funding initiatives to address the shortage. The for intensive care at the PA Hospital. She has comments by the member opposite on radio done this on a regular basis. I have not told this morning were inappropriate. Her behaviour untruths. In fact, I believe the member for is unbecoming of a member of Parliament. I Maroochydore should lift her game and would hope that she has the sense to concentrate on the issues for a change. apologise to the people of Queensland. The issue in this case, as I have explained previously in the House and several times in the media, is a nursing shortage that PETITIONS is causing problems for Queensland, all other The Clerk announced the receipt of the Australian health systems and indeed following petitions— hospitals around the world. Under the Beattie Labor Government, the ICU bed capacity in Queensland has increased and will increase Beaudesert Shire Council further with the completion of redevelopment projects at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and the From Mr Lingard (51 petitioners) PA Hospital. Also under the Beattie requesting the House to have Beaudesert Government there have been record Health Shire Council remove the unfair and unjust budgets, and the recent EB is fully funded and separate rate charge for roads in the not reliant on staff cuts to pay for it, as was the assessment of property rates as it is causing case under the previous Government. It is not financial difficulties for many senior citizens a funding problem. It is not a bed shortage and families. problem. It is a specialist nursing shortage, which we have been addressing with more success than the other States and, I should Electro Group Training add, since I became Health Minister. From Miss Struthers (39 petitioners) Rather than reducing bed numbers, this requesting the House allow the awarding of week the PA Hospital has opened two user choice contracts to Electro Group additional ICU beds but has had to ask nurses Training, the preferred industry choice of to work overtime to staff the unit. It has the apprentice training. funding and the beds. It simply does not have Petitions received. the specialist staff. It is unsafe for patients for staff to be asked to work extended overtime on a permanent basis just to keep the PAPERS member for Maroochydore happy. To emphasise the point that this problem is not The Clerk informed the House of the unique in Queensland, I quote from the 30 tabling of the following documents— August 2000 Nursing Labour Force report MINISTERIAL RESPONSES TO PETITIONS published by the Australian Institute of Health The following responses to petitions were and Welfare. It states— tabled by The Clerk— "Findings include national shortages in December 1999 in several specialist Response from the Minister for Communication and Information, Local Government and fields of nursing practice—operating Planning and Minister for Sport (Mr theatre, critical and intensive care, Mackenroth) to a petition presented by Mr accident and emergency, aged care, Mackenroth from 112 petitioners, regarding the mental health and midwifery." Burnett Shire Council— 4150 Legislative Assembly 9 Nov 2000 11 OCT 2000 Whilst Section 164(1)(b) of the Act Mr R Doyle provides for the dissolution of a local The Clerk of the Parliament government for the reasons set out in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland petition, the Department is of the opinion CENTRAL DOCUMENT EXCHANGE M29 there has been no evidence presented which would support a case that the Dear Mr Doyle Burnett Shire Council cannot properly I am in receipt of a number of petitions exercise its jurisdiction of local addressed to the Parliament from the government. I therefore do not propose to Elliott Heads & District Ratepayers & take any action under the abovementioned Residents Association (Inc.), concerning provisions of the Act. issues relating to the Burnett Shire It must be stressed the dismissal of a Council. democratically elected Council is a serious As the petitions appear to be the original action which would only be taken under copies, I have enclosed them for your the gravest circumstances. records together with my response to the I regret I am unable to be of assistance on principal petitioner. this occasion. Yours sincerely Yours sincerely (sgd) (sgd) TERRY MACKENROTH TERRY MACKENROTH 11 OCT 2000 Response from the Minister for Health (Mrs Edmond) to a petition presented by Mr Turner Mrs M J Phillips from 30 petitioners, regarding voluntary Secretary euthanasia— Elliott Heads & District Ratepayers & Residents Association (Inc.) 7 OCT 2000 27 Bathurst Street Mr R D Doyle ELLIOTT HEADS Q 4670 The Clerk of the Parliament Dear Mrs Phillips Legislative Assembly Offices Parliament House I refer to your letter of 25 September 2000 Alice and George Streets attaching a copy of a petition addressed BRISBANE Q 4000 to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland raising objections to the allocation of Dear Mr Doyle Council funds for legal expenses relating Thank you for forwarding a copy of the to the eligibility of an elected Councillor of petition lodged by the Voluntary Burnett Shire Council. Euthanasia Society of Queensland The Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) concerning voluntary euthanasia. provides local governments with a high A copy of the response to the Voluntary level of autonomy and makes them directly Euthanasia Society of Queensland on this accountable to their communities for the matter is attached. decisions they take. The powers of the Yours sincerely Local Government Minister to intervene in local government decision-making are (sgd) quite limited. In broad terms, the Act Wendy Edmond MLA contains reserve powers for the Governor MINISTER FOR HEALTH in Council to revoke or suspend a resolution of Council or to dissolve a local 24 OCT 2000 government on the recommendation of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Local Government Minister, where a local Queensland Incorporated government has acted outside its powers 115 Clough Street or where it is unable to exercise its MT GRAVATT Q 4122 jurisdiction. Dear Sir or Madam The issue raised by the petition Thank you for your petition laid upon the concerning expenditure on legal expenses table of the House on 5 October 2000 over and above the election budget has regarding euthanasia. been examined by my Department. In this regard, I would draw your attention to The Queensland Government does not Section 519(3) of the Act which provides support euthanasia and does not intend to that a local government may, by change the legislation with regard to resolution, amend its budget at any time euthanasia at this time. before the year ends. Decisions on these Recently enacted legislation enables matters are ones for the local government Queenslanders to advise on future health concerned. care. The Powers of Attorney Act 1999 9 Nov 2000 Ministerial Statement 4151 make provisions for an adult to make an MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Advance Health Directive. This allows an adult to give instructions about future Job Creation health care which comes into effect if the Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central— adult is unable to make their own decision. ALP) (Premier) (9.35 a.m.), by leave: Unlike However, an Advance Health Directive the State coalition Government, which does not allow euthanasia, but does allow abandoned all pretence of governing while the a person to give directions about Carruthers inquiry was under way, my treatments they do not want if they are suffering from an incurable or terminal Government is continuing to deliver for illness. More information regarding Queensland. I promised we would be a Advance Health Directives can be Government that focused on jobs, and that is obtained from The Adult Guardian by exactly what we are delivering. This week telephoning (07) 3234 0870. alone we have announced three major jobs The Government has also expanded and projects. On Monday, the Deputy Premier and improved palliative care options for I announced that Budget Direct Insurance Queenslanders with an annual increase in would establish a call centre on the Sunshine funding of up to $5.1 million for non- Coast, employing more than 160 people, and government organisations. its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Brisbane, which Palliative care is the provision of would employ a further 33 people. We also coordinated nursing, medical, and allied announced that computer software giant services for people who are facing Microsoft would establish a centre of terminal illness and which enables people excellence in Queensland to help generate to die with dignity. Efforts are made to jobs in the Smart State. Together with the provide palliative care in the environment Minister for Communication and Information, of the patient's choice, often with support Local Government and Planning and the vice- from family and friends.