ANMF Tasmanian Branch Demands Legislated Nurse-to-Patient Ratios and Recognition of Babies in Midwifery Staffing
July 2025
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmanian Branch has been calling for all major political parties to commit to legislating nurse-to-patient ratios in Tasmania.
ANMF Acting-Branch Secretary Phoebe Mansell said the ANMF welcomes the commitment from the Tasmanian Greens and Labor this State election to legislate ratios and implement “Count the Babies”.
“We challenge the Liberals to match these commitments,” Ms Masnell said.
“This critical reform would bring Tasmania into line with Queensland and Victoria, where mandated ratios have already delivered measurable improvements in patient care, nurse wellbeing, and system efficiency.
“The ANMF is calling for a commitment to ‘Count the Babies’ in midwifery staffing models.
“This is a long-overdue change that recognises the dual care midwives provide to both mother and newborn.”
Ms Mansell said this practice is already standard in Queensland and Victoria and is essential for ensuring safe and sustainable workloads in maternity services.
“Ratios save lives, reduce burnout, and improve care. It’s time Tasmania caught up.
“We need legislation that reflects the reality of care delivery and protects both patients and the workforce.”
Evidence from Queensland, where nurse-to-patient ratios were legislated in 2016, shows:
- A 12% reduction in 30-day patient mortality for each additional nurse per patient removed
- A 15% decrease in emotional exhaustion and 14% drop in job dissatisfaction among nurses
- An estimated 145 fewer deaths, 255 fewer readmissions, and 29,000 fewer hospital days in the first year of implementation
- A net saving of A$70 million, more than double the cost of additional staffing
Ms Mansell said despite these proven benefits, Tasmania’s current staffing models remain inconsistent and outdated.
“While some progress has been made, the lack of legislated ratios and the failure to count babies in midwifery care continue to place patients and staff at risk.
“Midwives are caring for two patients – the mother and the baby – yet our staffing models only count one.
“This is not just unfair, it’s unsafe. We need ratios that reflect the true complexity of care.”
The ANMF Tasmanian Branch is calling on all parties to:
- Legislate nurse-to-patient ratios across all public health settings
- Include babies in midwifery staffing models
- Ensure transparency and accountability in staffing practices
“Safe workloads are not a luxury — they are a necessity. Legislated ratios are a proven, evidence-based solution that Tasmania can no longer afford to ignore.”