ANMF Tasmanian Branch Budget Reply
26 May 2026
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) will today take their budget reply to the streets to ensure the Government hears the concerns of nurses and midwives following last week’s 2026-2027 State Budget.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said members are shocked and distressed by the State’s health budget last week indicating that significant operational efficiencies will need to be found during the 2026-2027 financial year and into the forward estimates equalling over $702 million dollars.
“While the Treasurer repeatedly denies this is a cut to health, pointing out that net health budget is increasing by $265 million between now and 2029, he has not indicated how the operational efficiencies will be generated in a health system that is already struggling to meet demand,” Ms Shepherd said.
“Whichever way you want to look at it, there are real cuts to the health system coming following the release of the 2026-2027 budget.
“Even if you accepted that an extra $265 million dollars toward health between now and 2029 is an actual increase in the health budget, that still leaves Health with a $437 million dollars deficit over the next 4 years.”
Ms Shepherd said ironically, during current public sector Enterprise bargaining, ANMF members are calling on the State Government to safely staff health services, to value their nurses and midwives through competitive conditions and wages and to protect them in their workplaces due to increasing violence and aggressions, moral injury and a lack of basic personal protective equipment.
‘It’s difficult to reconcile how millions of dollars can be found in efficiencies when the Health Department has already pursued improved supply chains and contracts, stopped staff travel and accommodation without it effecting staffing levels.
“The reality of stripping staffing from non-frontline positions is increased workloads on nurse and midwives performing nonclinical work, which leads to further inefficiencies in health care delivery and a more disillusioned and burnt-out workforce.
“The ANMF is currently in negotiations and remains committed to working constructively with the Government to ensure that Tasmania’s health system is adequately resourced to meet current and future demand.
“However, we urge careful reconsideration of the real impacts of the current funding trajectory to ensure that safe, high-quality care can be maintained for all Tasmanians and that critical health care professional like nurses and midwives can be retained and recruited to in Tasmania.”
Ms Shepherd said the ANMF will attend a briefing with the Secretary of Health today to better understand the operational efficiency impacts and will brief members soon after.
“The ANMF will not stand by and see Nurses and Midwives pay for these operational efficiencies with their own health and wellbeing and will take whatever steps are needed when these measures are applied to ensure all members are protected and safe in their workplaces.”