About 1,500 junior doctors are pursuing legal action against Tasmania’s health system over claims of systematic underpayment of overtime work.
The Supreme Court case focuses on unpaid hours at the Royal Hobart and Launceston General hospitals, covering medical staff employed since May 2019.
Dr Emily Mackrill is leading the case after working unpaid shifts across several departments during her time at Launceston General between 2019 and 2021.
The case follows similar in other states and territories where junior doctors have already won major settlements. The ACT secured $230 million, Victoria $175 million and NSW $31.5 million.
Lawyer Hayden Stephens, who represented doctors in those cases, expects smaller but still significant payouts in Tasmania due to its smaller workforce.
Compensation could range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands, depending on years worked and hours lost.
Stephens described conditions at Launceston General as among the worst he has seen nationwide.
His investigation found doctors regularly worked 15 to 25% above their contracted hours without pay.
“It is claimed that Dr Mackrill and the group members are entitled for payment for this work under clause 37 (later amended to clause 34) of the Medical Practitioners (Tasmanian State Service) Award,” Stephens’ website states.
“The proceedings also state that the relevant entitlement to overtime falls under clause 20 of the Salaried Medical Practitioners (AMA Tasmania / DHHS) Agreement 2009.”
The Department of Justice declined to comment while the case is before the courts, saying the State Litigation Office is handling the matter.
Doctors affected can register confidentially through the legal team’s website.
