Chris Rex’s remaining time as the well remunerated boss of Ramsay Health Care looks sure to be action-packed. Rex announced last month that he was leaving the private hospital operator after nine years in the top job. For now, Ramsay chairman Michael Siddle’s succession plans are as clear as the reasons for ever rising private health premiums. Sensing an opportunity is Labor senator Sam Dastyari, who has evidently decided it’s a good moment for his red house razzle dazzle. Yesterday, while Rex was apparently overseas selling his recent half-year results to investors, Dastyari took to social media for a Daily Show-style take-down of Rex. Rex’s crime? Being a paid a lot and, apparently, refusing to attend a Senate committee this week that will look at why costs for replacement knees, hips and pacemakers are so expensive in the private system. “Mr Rex. Mate. Bloke to bloke, come and have a chat. Come to our hearings,” said Dastyari to the camera. Ramsay’s people said characterising Rex’s no-show as a “refusal” isn’t fair. They said no official invitation from Dastyari’s office was made directly to Rex, only a call last week through to the company’s switchboard followed by an email. Well, any confusion seems to have been cleared up by Dastyari’s video. Rex is very much invited to the committee, which meets in Canberra today. The Ramsay boss — who advised the ASX on Friday that he had sold $35m worth of his stock, as his CFO Bruce Soden revealed he had sold $7.5m — seems to be in Europe at the moment. So that won’t happen. But if Rex refuses to attend future gatherings, Dastyari has made it known the Labor and Greens majority committee consider flexing its powers to make a summons. Other healthcare bosses who could also be summoned include Bupa boss Dwayne Crombie, Healthscope’s Robert Cooke and Medibank’s Craig Drummond. No word yet on any potential summons of NIB chief executive Mark Fitzgibbon, who as it happens is the brother of Labor shadow minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
March 17, 2017
Australian Retirement Holdings Pty Ltd has a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) to defend before Commissioner McKenna in Hearing Room 12-2 – Level 12 in Sydney (Priest).
March 17, 2017
Their act may not have been a big hit at bingo nights, but the naughty nannies are gearing up for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Thomas Jaspers, who plays Edith Vale in ‘A Visit with Nan in a Caravan’, said that being raised in a nursing home gave him a rare insight into elderly women.
March 17, 2017
Vineyard Medical Group P/L has made a s.217 (Application to vary an agreement to remove an ambiguity or uncertainty) to Fair Work Commissioner Cribb in Melbourne.
March 17, 2017
Inclusive Support Services INC is facing a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) instigated by a staff member (Sharaga).
March 17, 2017
Quad Services Pty Ltd is to defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Commissioner Saunders at Level 3, 237 Wharf Road, Newcastle at 9.30am (Cohen).
March 17, 2017
A crooked accountant who defrauded clients of more than $2 million and then gambled most of it away at Crown casino has been jailed for at least four years. Kaylene Maree Hussen ripped off 229 individual clients and five companies between 2010 and 2014 using several methods of deception at her Geelong West business PTS Tax and Accounting, the County Court heard. Her frauds included altering business activity statements and retaining tax credits, preparing bogus tax returns or inflating genuine ones and then keeping people’s refunds, and obtaining cash loans from banks for fictitious investments. “A number of your victims were vulnerable people such as the aged and disabled, (those) not with high incomes and were dependent on monies lost and their relationships with you,” Judge Bourke said on Tuesday, before formalising the sentence on Wednesday.
March 17, 2017
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT – termination at initiative of employer – constructive dismissal – s.394 Fair Work Act 2009 – application for unfair dismissal remedy – respondent worked as prominent orthopaedic surgeon in Sunshine Coast Medical Community – applicant employed as a medical secretary/receptionist with role changing to include responsibilities of practice manager – applicant was close friends with respondent’s ex-wife – respondent in new relationship with new team member – contended that new staff member was agitating respondent and causing the disruption to the working relationship – conversation took place between applicant and respondent in which applicant submitted the length of conversation and number of issues raised were extensive – felt this conversation was a betrayal of trust, severe victimisation and was emotionally, mentally and physically shattered as a result of it – claimed to be referred to as a ‘compulsive liar’ – felt to have no other option but to resign – respondent denied bullying the applicant at any relevant time, or subjecting to any verbal abuse – claimed applicant never raised any allegation of verbal abuse or complained of behaviour until the commencement of these proceedings – claimed that applicant saw new team member as a threat to authority and overreacted emotionally to any suggestion of new team members involvement in the practice – the intention of involving new team member in the practice was to reduce the applicant’s workload and time pressures – applicant submitted not to be under any time constraints or workload pressures and had managed the practice on own for many years – Commission found that applicant had no real choice but to resign – despite applicant’s resignation bringing the contract to an end, events leading up to this were considered – considered recording of meeting – aggregate of comments amounted to dismissal – applicant left with no option, as respondent indicated not to provide further support in role – ordered compensation in the amount of three weeks, less taxation to be paid within fourteen days of the date of this Decision as compensation for the procedural issues related to the dismissal. Ham v Dr Allan Clarke t/a CJ Orthopaedics P/L
