“The Queensland Government’s offer is the state wage offer plus an uplift at the end of the agreement to maintain nation-leading wages, and an Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package,” Nicholls said.
He said the state’s most recent offer was bolstered by a 10.2 per cent increase in Queensland’s health budget – delivered last Tuesday – which he said would add 2600 more beds and 4500 health workers to public hospitals in the next year.
The government said its offer would fulfil the promise of “nation-leading wages” for nursing and midwifery staff.Credit: Dan Peled
A previous offer from the government included an 11 per cent wage increase over three years, with provisions for more if inflation was higher than forecast. Half the increase would have come in 2027.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver a nation-leading pay deal for nurses and midwives in recognition of their important contribution to our state’s health system,” Nicholls said.
Beaman accused the state of “gaslighting” its workforce, saying previous offers would have left more than half its members would worse off than their counterparts in Victoria, and a 13 per cent increase would be the minimum required to remain ahead of other states.
She added proposed overtime conditions were “simply seeking pay, entitlement and condition equity with male-dominated frontline workforces”.
The union also called for more permanent graduate roles and protections to give nurses and midwives a say in hospital-wide decisions that could impact patient safety.
The union pointed to decisions such as the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s attempt to house women who had miscarried in the maternity ward, which Nicholls blocked in February.
“As fierce advocates for our patients and aged care residents, we will not let this happen,” Beaman said.
If the state and union do not reach an agreement, the union expected to begin rolling work bans across Queensland’s state-owned health services from next Monday.
The union promised patient safety would not be affected.
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