THS Enacts Workforce Freeze in All But Name
12 February 2025
Media Opportunity
When: Wednesday 12 February, 1100hrs
Where: ANMF Office 19 Brisbane Street, Launceston
Who: ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) today are preparing to attend the Tasmanian Industrial Commission on Thursday 13 February for further conciliation regarding the Statewide Workforce dispute brought on by the ANMF on Monday 23 December 2024. This dispute was raised a result of consistent and repeated chronic understaffing across the Tasmanian Health Service.
On Monday 23 December department representatives committed to upholding the commitments that were made to the ANMF in September 2024, including a commitment to an immediate uplift of agency staff to extend the contracts of existing agency staff to aid in filling hundreds of vacancies. Whilst the Department have maintained that there are only just over 100 vacancies Statewide, ANMF members have provided staffing spreadsheets that show almost 400 vacancies at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) alone.
Despite this the Department have now released a Protocol which encourages management to consider not filling vacant positions if agency staff is required and if they are required to meet clinical needs then they can only be employed for a maximum of three months and no extensions are to be offered.
“This protocol clearly indicates what the Department of Health and Governments agenda is – that is to reduce the nursing and midwifery workforce to meet their efficiency dividend and reduce the size of the State Service as outlined this year in their budget papers. They must come clean and admit to their staff and the Tasmanian Public, that this is a Health Workforce Freeze, said ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd.
Following the release of the 2024-2025 Tasmanian State Budget the ANMF met with the Secretary of Health following a motion put forward by Independent David O-Byrne and supported by Tasmanian Labor that required a roundtable to be convened to explain how these budget savings measures would be applied. At that meeting, the Secretary indicated that no nursing and midwifery positions would be affected and that savings would be met with improved procurement practices and stock control.
‘This protocol is outrageous and will impact on safe patient care, not to mention an exhausted and tired nursing and midwifery workforce. This clearly shows that a workforce freeze is in-train to balance the budget and ironically comes as over ten thousand dollars worth medication was thrown out last week due to exceeding temperature limits at the LGH. The lack of honesty and transparency is not only frustrating is so disrespectful to staff who are working tirelessly to try and provide the very best care they can’
As a result the ANMF will be seeking alternative solutions from the Department in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission to address the workforce crisis given they have now reneged on their commitment to extending agency contracts to address shift gaps for nurses and midwives.
‘Ultimately, it will be our members and the Tasmanian Government who bear the impact of this workforce freeze, the least the Government and Department can do it be honest about it.’
The dispute is listed for three o’clock on Thursday 13 February and the ANMF will provide an update following the conciliation to members. The ANMF will have no hesitation to seek directions for arbitration in this matter if there are no tangible solutions to bring respite to our members and will also consult with them about launching further industrial action if required.
-End-
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au