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Doctors welcome reduction in Ombudsman’s powers
03 June 2010.
AMA Victoria welcomes the Brumby Government’s plans to adopt Elizabeth Proust’s integrity report recommendations and reform the Victorian Ombudsman’s powers and responsibilities. The Review of Victoria’s integrity and anti-corruption system was publicly-released yesterday.
The Ombudsman will be subject to an oversight body which has the power to make directions to correct errors in process. The Whistleblower Protection Act will no longer be the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.
AMA Victoria’s submission to the Proust review raised concerns about errors of fact in the Ombudsman’s Bayside and doctors’ TAC and Worksafe billing reports.
"The Ombudsman chose to name two individuals in his report on Bayside Health, making serious allegations behind the cloak of Parliamentary privilege," said AMA Victoria CEO Jane Stephens. "These allegations have not been substantiated when due process has been applied to them.
"More broadly, the Ombudsman wrongly accused surgeons of widespread rorting when billing the TAC and Worksafe for surgery undertaken on victims of road trauma and workplace accidents. These allegations have since been proved untrue."
AMA Victoria’s submission highlighted concerned about intimidation by the Ombudsman’s office and denial of access to legal representation for persons being investigated.
"AMA Victoria members were intimidated and given incorrect information by the Ombudsman’s office as to their rights and responsibilities," said Ms Stephens.
"We are pleased AMA Victoria’s concerns have been considered and the Ombudsman will be subject to greater parliamentary oversight in future."
View AMA Victoria submission at: http://www.amavic.com.au/icms_docs/65644_AMA_Victorias_submission_to_the_Integrity_and_AntiCorruption_System_Review.PDF
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