Fourth nurses’ pay boost delivers 12% more in pay packets under LNP

Queensland nurses and midwives have been granted their fourth pay-rise since the election of the Newman LNP Government, making them overall about 12% better off than they were under Labor.

In a letter to local Queensland Health nurses and midwives today, Health Minister Lawrence Springborg wrote: “As a part of our strong plan for your profession, you will receive a 2.2% wage increase from 1 April 2015.”

The increase comes on top of a $500 boost to annual base salaries as part of the 2012 EB8 agreement, due on March 31, 2015. As a result a Grade 5 nurse at pay point 5 will earn an equivalent wage increase of 2.89% in 2015.

Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, said the increase would ensure nurses and midwives were not disadvantaged by an extension of time provided to complete the modernisation of the Nurses and Midwives’ award (this extension, to the second half of 2015, was granted by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in response to concerns expressed by the Queensland Nurses Union).

“This is strong recognition of the value this government places on the frontline profession of nursing and midwifery,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“The Queensland Government didn’t want this delay, advocated by the QNU, to leave nurses and midwives in limbo. This is why the Minister has taken this opportunity to write to directly to Queensland Health staff to provide them certainty.

Deb said the 2.2% wage increase was consistent with increases received by other Queensland Health employees in similar circumstances. Enterprise bargaining would follow the award modernisation process and would determine whether benefits and entitlements beyond 2.2% would apply.

A copy of the letter emailed out today to all Queensland Health nurses and midwives is attached.

Fast Facts:

Under the LNP Government’s strong plan to revitalise frontline services nurses and midwives receive pay increases over the 2012-2015 period as follows:

• 3% or $30 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2012;
• 3% or $30 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2013;
• 3% or $30 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2014;
• A $500 increase to base annual wage rate at end of agreement at 31 March 2015;
• and 2.2% payable from 1 April 2015.

In 2015, in addition to a $500 increase to annual base wages from 31 March 2015 as part of the current EB8 nurses and midwives will receive a further 2.2% wage increase from 1 April 2015.

How many nurses and midwives does this announcement benefit?

• Statewide: Over 33,000 nurses and midwives
• Cairns & Torres HHS: Over 2,500 local nurses and midwives
• Central Qld HHS: Over 1,500 local nurses and midwives
• Central West HHS: Over 150 local nurses and midwives
• Children’s HHS: Nearly 1,000 local nurses and midwives
• Darling Downs HHS: Nearly 2,500 local nurses and midwives (For the South Burnett this includes Kingaroy & Nanango Hospitals)
• Gold Coast HHS: Over 3,000 local nurses and midwives
• Mackay HHS: Over 900 local nurses and midwives
• Metro North HHS: Over 7,000 local nurses and midwives (For the Somerset, this includes Kilcoy Hospital)
• Metro South HHS: Nearly 6,000 local nurses and midwives
• North West HHS: Over 300 local nurses and midwives
• South West HHS: Nearly 400 local nurses and midwives
• Sunshine Coast HHS: Over 2,000 local nurses and midwives
• Townsville HHS: Over 2,500 local nurses and midwives
• West Moreton HHS: Over 1,500 local nurses and midwives (for the Somerset this includes Esk Hospital)Wide Bay HHS: Over 1,500 local nurses and midwives

FAQ’s are now available on the www.qld.gov.au/gettingbetter website.