The Branch Committee of Management of HSU #4 met last Wednesday night and determined to write to the major parties in Victoria seeking clarification of the policies of the Labor, Liberal and Green parties on the following important policy issues:

• Mental health and in particular

o    The enhancement of public mental health services in Victoria, and

o    Increased employment in public mental health services of psychologists, who are specialists in the areas of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders

• Funding for additional employment of pharmacists, dietitians, audiologists, medical scientists, medical physicists and clinical perfusionists to match the increased patient throughput in public health services

• Funding for additional training places in Victorian health services for student pharmacists, dietitians, audiologists, medical scientists, medical physicists and clinical perfusionists, to ensure sufficient placements and sufficient supervisors are available

• Guarantees that clinical services will not be privatised or contracted out by health services, in particular pathology services and psychology services

• Procurement policies

• That the shortage of medical physicists and their rates of pay compared to rates in other State in Australia will be addressed. Unless this happens, additional radiotherapy bunkers and linear accelerators will not be able to be commissioned, which will put cancer services in Victoria at risk.

• Industrial relations policy, and in particular policy in relation to bargaining over public sector rates of pay and conditions

The Union will report on the response of the parties to these specific issues.