AMA seeks new agreement for public hospital doctors

The current enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) expired on June 30, but AMA Victoria president Dr Doug Travis said the state government had allowed its own deadline to expire without negotiating a new agreement.

"We have constantly said that we are willing and able to do an early deal, and that offer remains open," he said.

Dr Travis said a ministerial review in November 2007 had identified doctors' salaries in Victoria as being among the lowest in the nation.

"Morale issues in our public hospitals will only be exacerbated if the government fails to make real efforts in negotiating a new EBA. Doctors are frustrated and want to see a meaningful response to the ministerial review," he said.

"I am willing to sit down with the minister to come to an early deal for a new EBA.

"As the minister's own review says, this issue cannot be allowed to fester without causing damage to morale, recruitment and retention or adversely affecting patient care.

"Our hospitals need action now."

A spokesman for Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the agreement had only just expired.

"There's a rollover clause in that, I believe," he said.

The spokesman said the government was meeting with the doctors and negotiations were expected to begin shortly.