Darren Simmons has been chief executive at the Shire of Irwin for eight years. He resigned on Friday for personal health reasons.
July 13, 2018
The family of the woman killed by a truck driver did not just forgive him, they had lunch with him after his court appearance. Alfred Price, after all, held Margaret Elizabeth Stewart’s hand as she lay dying on a Hamilton road. Price was momentarily distracted as he drove his truck-and-trailer unit along Ruakura Rd looking for an entrance to the Mitre 10. He didn’t see the red light at the pedestrian crossing and he didn’t see 91-year-old Stewart, edging along with her mobility walker. By the time he realised the light was red, it was too late and Stewart lay under his truck. Price was sentenced at the Hamilton District Court on Thursday after admitting a charge of careless driving causing death. Community magistrate Kathy Wilson ordered Price to pay $5000 reparation to the family. Wilson also accepted an application made by Price’s lawyer, Murray McKechnie, to allow Price to keep his licence, as driving is his livelihood.
July 12, 2018
An application for approval of the Hobart District Nursing Inc Non-Nursing Agreement 2017 (s.185 – Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement) will be determined by Fair Work Commissioner McKinnon in Hearing Room 8, First Floor in Hobart today.
July 12, 2018
A s.210 (Enterprise agreement) variation application by Bespoke Pathology; Bespoke Pathology Pty Ltd T/A Tissupath for its Tissupath Staff Agreement 2012-2016 has been granted by Fair Work Deputy President Masson in Melbourne on 11 July 2018.
July 12, 2018
An application by Health Services Union (s.240 – Application to deal with a bargaining dispute) is the preserve of Fair Work Deputy President Kovacic in Meeting Room 3 in Canberra today.
July 12, 2018
The Australian Government Department of Human Services is still dealing with a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) in front of Deputy President Colman in his Melbourne chambers (Gadzikwa).
July 12, 2018
The Health Services Union-New South Wales Branch and Anglican Community Services have a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Fair Work Vice President Catanzariti in his Sydney chambers today.
July 12, 2018
A registered nurse has been suspended for two months after she failed to chaperone a doctor who was on bail on indecent assault charges. On more than 13 occasions the doctor was allowed to see female patients alone despite being on strict supervision orders by the South Australian Medical Board. The registered nurse, who was supposed to be present during each of those consultations, later falsified records to show both she and the doctor had been obeying the chaperone order. The doctor was accused of indecently assaulting a 21-year-old female patient on July 22, 2012. He was arrested, charged and released on bail. The charges were later dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. While awaiting further legal proceedings the doctor was allowed to return to work on July 31, after accepting voluntary conditions with the medical board. He was only allowed to see female patients while in the presence of a chaperone and all the details of the interactions would be forwarded to the medical board. In August, 2012, the nurse agreed to be the chaperone for the doctor but over the next year, on at least 13 different occasions, she failed to attend the consultations. The nurse signed the chaperone log after the consultations and did not ask patients to confirm she had been present. The nurse admitted her conduct and told the South Australia Health Practitioners Tribunal that she was “extremely remorseful” for her conduct. The Tribunal heard that the nurse was dividing her time between a medical practice and a pathology group. The nurse also said she had no discussions with the doctor about how the supervision would work day-to-day. The doctor was “dismissive” of her attempts to broach the subject. On February 24, 2014, the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the charges against the doctor. The Tribunal ruled that the nurses actions constituted professional misconduct. “The Tribunal considers that the breaches of the undertakings, and the fact that there were repeated breaches, which also involved falsification of entries, amounted to a grave departure from the high professional standard expected of an experienced registered nurse,” Tribunal President Michael Ardlie said. Mr Ardlie also said there was a power imbalance between the nurse and doctor. The nurse was suspended from practising for two months, was fined $2,000 in legal costs and will be required to undergo further training.
