Rural Health Workforce

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:41): Supplementary: has the minister been engaged in discussions with the ANMF in his capacity as the Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:42): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am regularly engaged with not just public sector unions but other unions. I have, I think, a very good working relationship with many unions, including Liz Dabars and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

I think the last time I would have had a discussion this issue wasn't raised. I had a meeting with a number of union leaders in only the last couple of weeks. Certainly, there are very open channels of communication and I regularly am very happy to have phone calls, have meetings and have discussions about a whole range of issues that affect many unions.