Queensland Doctors Cautiously Vote to Accept Government Contracts

Queensland doctors have cautiously voted to accept the Government’s improved contracts and have vowed to continue fighting for the rights of Queensland patients.
According to Keep Our Doctors, of the doctors who voted in the ballot from Together and Australian Salaried Medical Officer's Federation,  53 per cent voted in favour of the contracts; 34 per cent voted against; and 13 per cent said they were unsure or abstained.
Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation President Dr Tony Sara said: “We’ve come a very long way from the original contracts which completely stripped away the rights of doctors and patients. The contracts are now acceptable to the state’s doctors, but only barely,” Dr Sara said.
“This can’t be considered an overwhelming vote in favour of the Government’s contracts. Doctors fought very hard to get these significant improvements to the contracts that protect the needs of patients.
“The state’s doctors are committed to providing the best possible care to the people of Queensland. We won’t let this Government continue to attack the right of patients to have access to the best possible public health care system.
“Queensland must continue to attract the best and brightest junior doctors if it is to sustain a first class public health care system.” Dr Sara said.