Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) there is a worsening crisis in New South Wales (NSW) public hospitals, with regard to the safety of patients and staff; last year alone there were 465 assaults in NSW hospitals, and

(ii) on 1 August 2019, 22,000 health workers will take industrial action as part of their campaign to improve safety and staffing conditions in NSW public hospitals;

(b) supports the Health Service Union in its endeavours for greater protection for patients and staff at NSW public hospitals; and

(c) calls on the NSW Government to work with health workers to deliver these requests.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government shares the concerns about patient and staff safety in hospitals. All patients and staff have a fundamental right to feel safe when in a hospital. This motion effectively asks the government to condone industrial action where medical staff will be on strike. This will potentially put patients' lives at risk. As such, the government cannot support this motion, and we are surprised that other elected representatives would choose to support action of this nature. The government supports the appointment of the Peter Anderson by the New South Wales government, who is currently undertaking a review into the safety of New South Wales hospitals.

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My notice of motion simply recognises the unsafe conditions of New South Wales public hospitals. Last year there were 465 assaults at New South Wales hospitals. These hospitals have never been more dangerous for both the staff and the community that rely upon them. I remind senators of the sorts of conditions health workers and patients face. Last night I spoke about paramedic Tess Oxley who had to reload a patient back into an ambulance because the hospital had become unsafe. She said:

We shouldn't have to be worried about having our back turned to somebody else - that we're going to get pushed, that we're going to get punched, that we're going to get spat on.

The motion condemns no-one. It calls on the Senate to recognise there is a crisis in safety in New South Wales hospitals and the New South Wales government should work with the political representatives of health services workers, the Health Services Union, to find a solution to ensure that patients and staff are safe.

Question agreed to.