Queensland’s nurses and midwives are initiating industrial action for the first time in over two decades, seeking improved pay and working conditions. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMWU) has mobilised around 55,000 members to kick off the first stage of their action today, which involves wearing pink and engaging with patients to raise awareness.
While direct care services will remain unchanged during this initial phase, subsequent stages of action could lead to work bans related to non-essential tasks, potentially disrupting healthcare services. If negotiations with the state government, which have not yielded a resolution despite ongoing discussions, continue to stall, further action may include strikes at hospitals and aged care facilities statewide.
The union is pressing the government to uphold its pre-election promise of offering competitive wages and favourable conditions, crucial to maintaining high standards of care. Claims from the union indicate that the lack of agreement is leading to significant staffing shortages, affecting over 300 shifts daily, which could result in Queensland falling behind Victoria for the first time in 15 years regarding staffing standards.
Union representatives, including Sarah Beaman, emphasise that the resolution of the matter relies heavily on government responsiveness to nurses’ concerns, urging them to honour commitments and protect existing entitlements. Meanwhile, Health Minister Tim Nicholls has countered the union’s stance, asserting that the government has engaged in respectful negotiations without resorting to public confrontations. He has stressed their willingness to cooperate while highlighting concerns that the latest offers might jeopardise flexible working arrangements and impede the state’s ability to attract international nursing talent.
Despite the impasse, both parties remain at the negotiation table, reflecting the critical need for a workable resolution that addresses the union’s demands without compromising care quality.