TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.55 application for filing an industrial agreement

Minister Administering the State Service Act 2000

and

Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association
(T10694 of 2003)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TASMANIAN VISITING MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AGREEMENT 2002

Industrial agreement - application approved - operative date ffpp 13 February 2003 - forwarded to A/Registrar for registration

REASONS FOR DECISION

(1) On 31 January 2003 the Minister Administering the State Service Act 2000 (MATSSA) and the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) lodged with the Acting Registrar, pursuant to Section 55(2) of the Industrial Relations Act 1984, the Department of Health and Human Services Tasmanian Visiting Medical Practitioners Agreement 2002.

(2) When this matter came on for hearing on Thursday 13 February 2003, Mr D Johnstone, together with Mr J Milbourne, appeared for MATSSA. Mr D Lowe appeared for the AMA.

(3) Mr Johnstone indicated that this Agreement replaced the Department of Health and Human Services Tasmanian Visiting Medical Officers [Public Sector] Enterprise Agreement 1999.1

(4) The major changes in the new Agreement were identified as follows:

• Two 5% salary increases [non cumulative] operative from 1 January 2003 and 2004.

• On Call Allowance increased from $4 to $5 per hour, with attendant changes to response requirements.

• Introduction of a Managerial Allowance for Heads of Departments.

• Availability of Salary Sacrifice, Salary Packaging and Salary Aggregation.

• Option of paid leave to be available to all employees.

• Change to spread of ordinary hours.

(5) Mr Lowe supported the submissions of Mr Johnstone. He indicated that the AMA viewed this as a particularly significant Agreement that greatly enhanced consistency, cohesion and coordination between salaried and visiting medical practitioners.

(6) I am satisfied that the Agreement is consistent with both the Wage Fixing Principles and the public interest requirements of the Act.

(7) Pursuant to Section 55[4] of the Act, the Agreement is approved effective from the beginning of the first full pay period to commence on or after 13 February 2003 and shall remain in force for a period of three years.

(8) The file will now be referred to the Acting Registrar for registration in accordance with the requirements of Section 56(1) of the Act.

Tim Abey
COMMISSIONER

Appearances:
Mr D Johnstone and Mr J Milbourne for the Minister Administering the State Service Act 2000.
Mr D Lowe for the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Medical Association

Date and Place of Hearing:
2003
February 13
Hobart

1 TE858 of 1999