Shadow Federal Health Minister Mark Butler visits Launceston today

30 September 2021

WHEN: September 30, 2021, TODAY at 1.45pm
WHERE: Outside the Launceston General Hospital
WHO: Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd will be joined by Shadow Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, and ANMF members.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) has today welcomed the opportunity to meet with The Shadow Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler in Launceston.

Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the ANMF will meet with Mr Butler and urge him to support the key asks in its Aged Care Campaign and make them a priority for Labor in the next Federal Election. 

“The ANMF is also calling on all Federal Senators to commit their support to fix aged care and vote up the upcoming RN 24/7 Bill,” Ms Shepherd said. 

“Despite the Royal Commission recommending urgent reforms, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is too slow to act to protect our loved ones in aged care.” 

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF has listed key reforms which must be addressed to achieve the necessary change in aged care: 

  • A Registered Nurse on every shift 
  • Minimum mandated care hours 
  • Greater transparency of funding 
  • Improved Wages and Conditions 

“Our members continue to experience chronic understaffing and cuts to care hours. The longer the government delays fixing the dangerously inadequate staffing levels in nursing homes, the longer the pain and suffering will continue for those older Australians. 

“The implementation of safe nurse staffing levels and mandated minimum staff time, as recommended by the Aged Care Royal Commission, will address the chronic understaffing in the aged care sector. 

“It will stop the neglect and suffering of vulnerable residents who are not receiving the care they deserve. 

“A national law requiring a registered nurse to be on shift 24 hours per day in nursing homes is not too much to ask. We ask all Federal senators to support this new Bill and all Federal Politicians to support the ANMF’s key priorities to address the failures in the aged care system,” Ms Shepherd said. 

-End –

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd,
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au