In less than 24 hours Queensland nurses and midwives were due to receive their scheduled 2.2 per cent pay rise however Labor are still dragging their feet and yet to confirm if they will deliver the increase.

Speaking in Cairns today, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the LNP promised the pay rise while in Government however the Health Minister has been silent on the issue.

“Labor continue to show time and time again they are not up to governing this State and have failed to provide certainty for Queenslanders,” Mr Springborg said.

“The Health Minister had plenty of time in Parliament last week to commit to the pay rise however he has chosen to leave nurses and midwives in limbo wondering whether an increase is coming tomorrow.

“In stark contrast the LNP delivered a 12 per cent pay increase to more than 33,000 nurses and tomorrow (Wednesday 1 April) they were due to receive another 2.2 per cent rise which we fully budgeted and costed.

“The Minister is either too busy, proving he is not up to the job or Labor’s lack of a plan has left them unsure how to pay for a wage rise.”

Mr Springborg said even the Queensland Nurses Union had written to Minister Dick requesting his urgent attention to the matter.

“It should come as no surprise that Labor is taking us back down the familiar path of bungles and maladministration of the Queensland health system while under the LNP, Queensland nurses and midwives became among the highest paid in Australia,” he said.

Fast Facts

  • Under the LNP Government nurses and midwives received pay increases over the 2012-2015 period:
  • 3% or $30 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2012;
  • 3% or $30 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2013;
  • 3% or $30 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2014;
  • A $500 increase to base annual wage rate at end of agreement at 31 March 2015; and
  • 2% payable from 1 April 2015.
  • In 2015, in addition to a $500 increase to annual base wages from 31 March 2015 as part of the current EB8 nurses and midwives will receive a further 2.2% wage increase from 1 April 2015.
  • This benefited more than 33,000 nurses and midwives state-wide.