10 May 2019
Workers rally for the future of health care in Tasmania
Rally
When: TODAY, Friday 10th May 2019
Time: 3.20pm – 3.50pm
Where: Parliament Lawns, Hobart
Media Doorstop
When: TODAY, Friday 10th May 2019
Time: 3.50pm – 4.00pm
Where: Parliament Lawns, Hobart
Who: ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd, ANMF officials and member representatives
Today, Friday 10th of May nurses and midwives will be stopping work and collectively gathering on Hobart’s Parliament Lawns in a bid to show the Tasmanian Government that they are concerned for the future of the nursing profession in the state.
Members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) remain adamant that without an improved wages and conditions package that rivals that of other states, the future of the health system in Tasmania will be put at risk.
“Nurses are advocates for their patients,” said ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd. “And in their role as advocates they are concerned that their future patients are going to be put at risk because there will not be enough nurses and midwives to care for them.”
Nurses and midwives have been locked in a dispute with the Tasmanian Government over pay and conditions for more than 12 months. During this time Tasmanian nurses have fallen below all other Australian states and territories to become the lowest paid in the country.
“Nursing is a national market and without a comparative package of wages and conditions for workers we will see an exodus of these valuable staff from the state and an inability to attract new nurses to the public sector.”
“Every day nurses and midwives are responsible for ensuring that timely and safe care is delivered to Tasmanians. Members are reporting to the ANMF that the current pressures on the health system, coupled with the disrespect shown by the Tasmanian Government’s latest offer, is leaving them feeling deflated and unappreciated for the work they are doing to prop up the system.”
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government is not only disrespecting the importance of the professions by not tabling an offer that shows respect for the nurses and midwives working in a system under pressure. They are also showing disrespect to those Tasmanian’s that need to access the lifesaving services that nurses provide,” said Ms Shepherd.
ANMF will be holding a doorstop at 3.50pm following the rally. ANMF officials and members will be available at this time to discuss the ongoing campaign and views of public sector members.
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.shepherd@anmftas.org.au