Overview

• The class action was lodged in the Tasmanian Supreme Court and targets unpaid, unrostered overtime at the Royal Hobart and Launceston General hospitals since May 2019.
• Lead plaintiff Dr Emily Mackrill alleges unpaid hours while at Launceston General from 2019 to 2021, with former colleague Eibhlinn Cassidy saying junior doctors regularly stayed late without pay.
• Plaintiffs’ lawyer Hayden Stephens reports doctors routinely worked 15–25% beyond rostered hours and warns fatigue increases the risk of clinical errors.
• Roughly 1,500 junior doctors could be affected, with individual compensation potentially ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands based on service and classification.
• The State Litigation Office is handling the government’s response, and the Health Department says it will process supported excess‑time claims, as similar cases in NSW, the ACT and Victoria have produced large settlements or resolutions.