NEWS-HR

Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation is still caught up with a brace of s.365 (Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal (consent arbitration) before Deputy President Asbury in Hearing Room 1 in Brisbane (Dargan/Roos).

A Perth neurologist has been found guilty of professional misconduct after he financially exploited an elderly patient with dementia and Parkinson’s disease under his care. Professor Peter Panegyres worked as a neurologist at his private clinic at Subiaco, the Neurosciences Unit of the Western Australian Department of Health and the Mid-West Country Neurology Service. In 2009, he began treating a Paraburdoo man, aged in his 70s, for tremors. As the Paraburdoo man’s condition worsened, the patient was admitted to Joondalup Health Campus for ongoing hospital care in late-2012. In a three-month period between November 2012 and February 2013, over 87 days, Professor Panegyres conducted 78 consultations with the patient, and charged him $25,265 – more than twice the recommended Australian Medical Association guidance fees ($11,135) for the services provided. Each consultation, on average, cost $350, although limited records were kept about the nature of, or the reasons for, the consults. During his time as a patient at Joondalup Health Campus, it was determined the man had become incapable of making reasonable decisions in relation to his medical care and financial affairs, and, because the man had no family members in WA, a public trustee was appointed in January. The public trustee, Stephen Dennis, received the invoice for $25,265 around March 2013, and noticed Professor Panegyres had charged his client for every day of his hospital admission, except a two-week period over Christmas and New Year. “Mr Dennis considered this to be unusual and excessive… he says he considered that (the patient) may have been taken advantage of and therefore he did not authorise the payment,” a State Administrative Tribunal decision stated. Mr Dennis subsequently submitted a complaint to the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office which led to the Medical Board of Australia alleging Professor Panegyres behaved in a way that constituted professional misconduct. The board and Professor Panegyres were unable to agree on the misconduct allegations, and the matter was referred to the State Administrative Tribunal, which found the doctor guilty of professional misconduct on Tuesday.

A s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) by Ms Debra Ferguson against The Westhaven Association Ltd T/A Westhaven Association has been refused by Deputy President Dean in Sydney on 22 November 2017. He ruled that the minimum employee period had not been met.

Collie River Valley Medical Centre is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Deputy President Binet in Conference Room 12.33 in Perth (Leckie).

Ms Jenny Chau has lucked out in her pursuit of Eleano Staff Pty Ltd T/A Emporium Terry White Chemist. Deputy President Colman in Melbourne on 22 November 2017 issued his decision summary as “resignation – whether employee dismissed during the notice period – applicant not given work on the last day – no dismissal at the initiative of the employer – question of unpaid wages and entitlements – application dismissed.”

Anglican Community Services will defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Deputy President Sams in Hearing Room 14-1 – Level 14 in Sydney (Natoli).

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Armest Pty Ltd t/a Miles Witt Partnership for its Liberty Community Connect Enterprise Agreement 2017 has been granted by Commissioner Saunders in Newcastle on 21 November 2017.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Aged Care Services Australia Group Pty Ltd have a (s.739 – Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Cribb in Conference Rooms E & F – Level 6 in Melbourne at 4.30pm.