Health at risk if nurses’ penalty rates cut
The health of all Australians may be at risk if penalty rates and other allowances are stripped from nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing, as part of the Productivity Commission’s review of the Fair Work Act.
Lee Thomas, ANMF federal secretary, warns the health of Australians may be at risk.
The claim comes from Lee Thomas, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's (ANMF) federal secretary, who says leaked terms of reference published last week, indicated the Productivity Commission Inquiry will leave no part of the industrial relations system untouched.
“It is simply a return to WorkChoices. Australians overwhelmingly voted against WorkChoices and Prime Minister Tony Abbott himself made a pre-election promise of not attacking workers’ wages and conditions,” Ms Thomas says.
“Far from being dead, buried and cremated, as Prime Minister Abbott said, it seems WorkChoices is being resurrected under the cover of the Productivity Commission.”
As nursing and midwifery is a '24 hour' profession, Ms Thomas claims nurses and midwives rely heavily on penalties and shift loadings.
“It’s only fair they are compensated for working at any hour of the day or night, on weekends, public holidays and special days like Christmas. The impact of stripping away penalty rates would have the effect of up to a 25% pay cut for nurses and midwives – that is unacceptable.
“That’s why the view by the federal government that penalty rates are prohibiting business is a slap in the face for Australia’s nursing and midwifery workforce.”
Australia is already reportedly experiencing a nursing crisis, with a shortage of 109,000 nurses by 2025.
“How can we possibly expect to retain, let alone recruit new nurses and midwives if the government now wants to take away their penalty rates and shift loadings?
“Ultimately, with a dwindling nursing and midwifery workforce, the healthcare delivered to everyday Australians is going to suffer as a consequence.
“Penalty rates and other allowances are critical issues for our members – and they’ll fight to save them.”
The ANMF, with more than 230,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing in Australia.
