Queensland Public Doctors Receive New Contract

Health Minister Cameron Dick said that the government had reached agreement with the doctors’ main bargaining bodies- Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation Queensland as well as Together Queensland- over a new enterprise agreement.

Under the proposed new certified agreement, doctors working in public hospitals would receive a wage rise of 2.5% for each of the next three years.

The agreement also allows for improved professional development for junior doctors as well as a motor vehicle allowance for part-time doctors.

“What this government has done is restore collective bargaining with its medical workforce in good faith and achieve an outcome that restores fairness to the system while recognising the professional and personal commitment our doctors make to their patients,” said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk regarding the fights clinicians had been having over the previously proposed Work Choices style individual contracts.

According to Brisbane Times, Queensland Health will first finalise the new award for Queensland doctors and the certified agreement will be put out to a ballot with members, although the government does have in-principle agreement with the unions. The agreement will be taken before the Industrial Relations Commission, and the final EBA should be ready by September 30.