Media release – AMA Tasmania, 5 July 2023
Statement from Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel, Lead Negotiator for AMA Tasmania and the Tasmanian Salaried Medical Practitioners Society (TSMPS)
AMA Tasmania is pleased to announce that public hospital doctors have overwhelmingly voted to accept the Tasmanian Governments Salaried Medical Practitioners (SMP) EBA offer following lengthy negotiations.
Dr Michael Lumsden Steel, AMA Tasmania/TSMPS lead negotiator, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations.
“The new EBA package repositions Tasmania to be competitive to recruit and retain more doctors.
“This is a significant milestone for Tasmania’s healthcare sector, as ultimately, it will improve healthcare services for Tasmanians.
“To say that we are relieved is an understatement; to have achieved such a sensible, comprehensive, and sustainable investment into the SMP workforce means we can now recruit and retain competitively with other states.
“The government’s decision to recognise the needs of a multicultural and flexible workforce is commendable and supports a modern approach to healthcare.
“This positive development will improve many aspects of the healthcare service, promoting inclusivity, recognising the vital roles of all our doctors, including our international medical graduates, and supporting work traditionally added outside of hours.
“The comprehensive package ensures that the Tasmania Health Service (THS) can attract and retain the junior doctors and specialists needed to provide the cutting edge of modern medicine delivery In Tasmania. These services continue to evolve and are underpinned by a robust medical, nursing, and allied health workforce.
“These innovations reinvigorate the healthcare system, reduce the requirement to transfer patient’s interstate and reduce the government’s dependence on costly locums.
“It will also support the ICT rollout, facilitate, and modernise THS care delivery, and reduce the reliance on our fractured outsourcing to the private sector.”
Overall, this positive agreement is an excellent incentive to rebuild the workforce and improve healthcare services for the people of Tasmania.
“The new agreement working within the government’s parameters has shown tremendous foresight and finally draws a line in the sand and enables us to roll up our sleeves and set about rebuilding our workforce. “We know we need more doctors and improved systems to address the waiting lists for specialists in outpatient clinics – and this agreement will help.
“One of the critical features of these negotiations has been ensuring we are in the best possible position to attract and retain our intern and doctor-in-training workforce – the senior specialist and general practitioners’ workforce of our future, who have been alarmingly en masse moving to other states.
“This new agreement provides key incentives to stay, marking a turning point, enabling us to rebuild our workforce to attract and retain interns and DiTs who will go on to work as specialists and GPs within our communities.”
Although the hard work begins now, the doctors are confident they can progress with their 2023/24 goals.
The government negotiators deserve sincere appreciation for their unwavering efforts and foresight in reaching this outcome within the state government’s wage policy’s set parameters.
This positive outcome has been achieved by doctors willing to sacrifice some allowances and structural adjustments, facilitating two rises over three during the agreement.
Finally, we look forward to seeing this agreement’s positive impact on Tasmania’s healthcare sector, particularly following the intense disruption and discourse bought on by COVID.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Health, 5 July 2023
New pay deal reached with Tasmania’s doctors
Tasmanian doctors are one step closer to receiving a well-deserved pay rise with the Government’s wage offer receiving overwhelming support from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) members.
The new agreement reached with Tasmania’s salaried medical practitioners (SMPs) will see increased wages, better working conditions and a mutual commitment to reforming Tasmania’s health system.
Premier and Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff, said that 98 per cent of doctors voted in support of the Government’s offer, which is a great outcome for the state’s doctors, as well as patients and the wider health system.
“This agreement is a result of months of positive, productive discussions between the Tasmanian Government and the AMA,” the Premier said.
“We are always committed to delivering fair and reasonable wage offers, and I commend our doctors for their willingness to enter into genuine, good faith negotiations.”
A number of allowances will be rolled into the base salary. There was also a variation from a schedule of annual salary increases, which will instead see a salary increase applied 18 months apart.
As part of the offer, doctors will receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023, and a further 3 per cent increase effective the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 January 2025.
Doctors will also receive a $1,000 cost of living payment in line with other public sector agreements.
The new wage agreement will also provide doctors with a range of improved conditions, which are consistent with other public sector agreements, including new entitlements for leave arrangements.
In addition to salary increases and other conditions, the agreement includes major structural changes for doctors in training which will make it easier for Tasmania to attract young doctors and build the workforce of the future.
Premier Rockliff said the overwhelming support for our offer demonstrates that our doctors share the government’s vision to reform Tasmania’s health system.
“Doctors have committed to implement a range of innovative initiatives – including criteria-led discharge for patients and digital health initiatives – which supports the Government’s strategic priorities,” Premier Rockliff said.
“The Tasmanian Government will continue to work with medical staff and the AMA to deliver reforms across the health system to benefit all staff and patients.
“Doctors provide life-saving care and treatment to patients every single day and on behalf of the Tasmanian Government, I thank them for their commitment to the health of the Tasmanian community.”
