NURSES — INDUSTRIAL ACTION
766. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the inability to attract and retain staff in the health system, would it
not be helpful to reward nurses properly?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
We
have recruited 1 500 additional nurses over the last year or so. It has been
the biggest nurse recruitment campaign in history. We have 400
additional doctors. In the last two budgets, there has been $6 billion in
additional funding for the health system. It
is the strongest funded health system per capita of any health system in any
state in Australia. That is what has occurred. For decades the nurses'
union has argued for nurse-to-patient ratios. We have agreed to put it in place in the next two years. It has
complexity around it that requires a period to embed it, but we have agreed
to do it. The nurses won that—they won. Now they are engaging in strike
action. It does not make any sense. The opposition's Treasury
spokesperson said publicly that what we offered to nurses was a reasonable
offer. In fact, he said that it was generous at one point in time. Now members
opposite are rushing into Parliament the day before unlawful strike action and
supporting unlawful action. They should be ashamed of themselves!