ANMF nurses and midwives stop work supported by the Tasmanian community

WHAT: ANMF Media Call
WHERE: Parliament Lawns
WHEN: Saturday 7 November, 2026 at 11.30am

Special Note: Rally & Speakers 11:30am – 12:00pm, Emily Shepherd and Nurses available to speak with media at 12 noon.

The ANMF will today support nurses and midwives as they Stop Work at the Royal Hobart Hospital and the Repatriation Centre, supported by Nurses and Midwives across the State and also the Tasmanian Community as they walk off the job and rally at Parliament House Lawns in Hobart in pursuit of an improved offer for their replacement agreement.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd said Nurses and Midwives received an initial offer last Friday after months of bargaining.

“While there were elements of the offer that were positive, key priority matters were not included, some didn’t even make it to the offer while others were not included in the offer and many need improvement,” Ms Shepherd said.

“Members overall were disappointed by the offer presented by Government after months of bargaining as they feel the offer doesn’t appropriately respect nurses and midwives, value them for the work that they do not do enough to support retention and recruitment.”

Ms Shepherd said the offer, while including some key clauses such as allowances for designated nurse prescribers and endorsed midwives, change time for nurses who work in theatres in paid time and lead apron breaks.

“But members are shocked that the five personal impacts days included in the offer is suggested to only apply to ED, ICU and Mental Health Members when all other public sector members receive this entitlement.”

“No matter where nurses and midwives work, they are subjected to distressing and traumatic situations.”

“Midwives face supporting mothers as they deliver stillborn babies in the maternity setting, medical oncology members support those receiving treatment for cancers, treatment which can at times make patients incredibly sick and despite these patients becoming like family, some sadly die on the ward and nurses in schools are engaging with students, receiving disclosures of abuse while also facing aggression and violence at times.”

“Failing to apply this entitlement to all nurses and midwives shows a lack of insight into the very demanding, and at times traumatic, environment in which our members work.”

“Just because it’s part of the job doesn’t mean our members are not affected by it and shouldn’t be supported and protected by their employer to ensure their own health and wellbeing is not affected.”

Ms Shepherd said members are incredibly concerned that recruitment and retention of members will be further hampered by a wages offer that will continue to see the vast majority of nurses and midwives the worst paid in the Nation.

“It comes at a time where recruitment is challenging with many members reporting vacancies creating roster gaps resulting in overtime, double shifts and agency staff all of which create significant cost to the Tasmanian Government.”

“It also comes at a cost to nurses and midwives who often work below safe staffing minimums, work the overtime and part-time staff pick up extra shifts to ensure their colleagues and patients are safe.

“Ultimately though this results in existing staff becoming unwell and burnt out and needing to take sick leave themselves.

“Our nurses and midwives work incredibly hard delivering their best care and treatment to patients, but this shouldn’t come at the cost of their own health.

“A wage offer that fails to retain and recruit more nurses will continue to not only cost the Government millions in agency and overtime, but it will also continue to erode the health and wellbeing of the nursing and midwifery workforce, the backbone of our health system.”

Ms Shepherd said ANMF nurses and midwives call on the Tasmanian Government to improve the offer to nurses and midwives when an anticipated return to the negotiating table occurs this week and have indicated the offer is not even near where it needs to be to consider standing down industrial action.

“The ANMF will continue to support nurses and midwives in their pursuit for a respectful offer that values their critical work across the health system while engaging in ongoing negotiations to improve the offer for nurses and the Tasmanian community alike.”

-End-

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