NURSES — INDUSTRIAL ACTION
652. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Minister for Health playing hardball with the very people who are
propping up our hospitals in the middle of a health crisis?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please!
Ms A.
SANDERSON replied:
Depth is certainly not something
that is very common on the bench over there.
The point that I just made is that
we have made a good pay offer to the nurses. The thing that the Australian
Nursing Federation asked for, its key claim,
is and always has been ratios and the Victorian model, so we have put on the
table ratios. It said it did not need
a fully formed policy; it needed a principle. We put on the table a principle.
It said it needed a working party. We put on the table a working party. We are
working with the union day and night and over weekends.
The industrial action is
unnecessary. It is unnecessary and it is poor form, because industrial action
should occur only when absolutely necessary and be used sparingly. I can assure
the community that the hospitals are working hard
to make sure that shifts are covered and patient safety is not compromised. I know
our nurses work with integrity and they work hard; they will ensure that
patient care is not compromised. This is not a necessary action for them to
take, because we are bargaining in good faith and we have put on the table a historic
reform to our health system. I am excited about that reform. The Queensland
government took two years to roll out the reform. The Victorian government took
two years to roll out the reform.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms A. SANDERSON: Does the
member want to hear the answer? Listen.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms A. SANDERSON: Listen. I dread
to think what would happen if she were running this dispute. It would be an
absolute dog's breakfast.
The thing that I am focused on —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order, please!
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Wanneroo!
Ms
A. SANDERSON: This government is
focused on delivering historic reform in our health system, and that is
introducing nurse-to-patient ratios and working with the ANF to do that. I want
to get money in nurses' pockets before Christmas. The sooner we get
this negotiation done and the deal signed, the sooner nurses get money in their
pockets.