AMA helps deliver "best achievable" pay deal

After more than 18 months of robust and at times turbulent negotiations with the WA Government, the AMA (WA) has brokered a significantly improved industrial agreement which has been formally accepted by public sector salaried medical practitioners.

At a well attended General Meeting held on October 10, members resolved that the offer was "the best package that could be achieved."

However, because of continuing concerns over the Government's attitude to mobility issues for senior practitioners (not withstanding safeguards negotiated in the new agreement), the meeting also supported a motion urging department heads, Clinical Associations and the AMA to "vigorously support members if Government seeks to unilaterally shift doctors without appropriate negotiation".

AMA (WA) President Prof Geoff Dobb said the new agreement raised the bar nationally in terms of the wages, rights and conditions offered to salaried practitioners.

"The shortage of doctors in Australia and overseas has reached critical levels and States such as Queensland have been offering very generous packages to lure senior doctors there," said Prof Dobb.

"This agreement will go a long way towards ensuring that WA retains and attracts the skilled medical workforce it needs to maintain the highest standards within the State's public health service."

Under the new agreement, Seniors receive a salary and allowances restructure which produces substantial increases over the life of the agreement.

There are also improved Professional Expenses and Development Allowances and a radically improved Arrangement A.

Prof Dobb said the new agreement also addressed many of the issues which had been raised by Doctors in Training.

"Thanks to the AMA's advocacy on behalf of DITs, the new agreement will greatly assist in ensuring that our young doctors will receive the teaching and training they require to become tomorrow's specialists," he said.

The agreement also provides DITs with significantly increased Professional Development Allowances, a restructure and extension of salary scales for Registrars, improved access to overtime, improved safe hours, a commitment to providing DITs with better supervision and significant improvements in a range of other conditions.

Prof Dobb said that provided no unforseen issues arose in resolving the fine print and formalisation of the MHS agreement, the association was hopeful that it would be registered shortly.

Considerable work is also being undertaken to finalise the details of the related Government agreements covering Country Health Services, Clinical Academics, Alcohol and Drug Authority and Health Department Practitioners, with a view to seeking to have these registered at the same time.

Further details will be forwarded to members when the agreements are finalised and registered. The association has also indicated its availability to detail the outcomes at hospital meetings.

"Finalisation of these agreements will bring to an end 18 months of difficult and at times fierce debate and members should acknowledge the sterling efforts of the AMA's negotiating team," said Prof Dobb.

For more information contact the association on (08) 9273 3000.