Nurses and midwives in the Esk, Kilcoy, Nanango and Kingaroy Hospitals will benefit from a 2.2% pay rise after the Labor Government agreed to honour the LNP’s promise.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the nurses at Esk (22), Kilcoy (27), Nanango (13) and Kingaroy (124) Hospitals will benefit from the well-deserved pay increase.
“The hard-working frontline staff in our health system deserve to be properly rewarded which is why the LNP ensured this increase was fully budgeted and costed,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Importantly, under our former LNP administration the number of nurses at Kingaroy Hospital also increased by 21 to the current level of 124,” she said.
“This boost to pay ensures investment in our workforce and an investment in caring for patients in the Nanango Electorate.
“While Labor has now endorsed the pay rise, it seems strange the Health Minister waited until the very last minute to confirm the increase would definitely be delivered.
Mrs Frecklington said the Queensland Nurses Union have been quiet about the pay rise, particularly since they had previously indicated it was ‘substandard’.
“When the pay rise was announced in September 2014, the union said 2.2% had fallen under the Consumer Price Index recommended figure of 3%,” Deb said.
“Only time will tell if the union now changes its tune to support Labor just because they are in government.
“Let’s not forget it was the LNP that delivered a 12% pay increase to more than 33,000 nurses compared to Labor’s record of failing to pay nurses anything during the health payroll crisis.”
Fast Facts
Under the LNP Government nurses and midwives received pay increases over the 2012-2015 period as follows:
Photo: During a visit to the Esk Hospital last year - Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg with West Moreton HHS Board Members and Hospital staff. Nurses at the Hospital will receive a 2.2% pay rise.
