Media Release
Opposition
Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says a Labor Government will direct the
state’s Hospital and Health Services to guarantee work for 12 months for
4,000 graduate nurses over the next four years without the need for
asset sales.
Speaking on the Gold Coast today, Ms Palaszczuk said: “Labor will kick-start the careers of 4,000 graduate nurses over four years by employing each of them for a year in Queensland public hospitals.
“Unlike the LNP that cuts 4,800 jobs including 1,800 nurse and midwife positions, Labor will engage more nurses.
“And unlike the LNP, if Labor wins office these 4,000 graduate nurses will be employed over four years regardless of how individual local electorates vote on 31 January.
“Labor’s Refresh Nursing policy is an affordable and sensible way for Labor to begin repairing the damage the Newman Government’s cuts have inflicted on communities across our state.
“Our policy costing an extra $111 million over four years will employ 1,000 graduate nurses for 12 months each — kick-starting the careers of 4,000 graduate nurses over four years.
“This means 1,000 extra nurses on the frontline in Queensland hospitals. It also means that at the end of their 12-month employment period each graduate nurse will have had valuable practical experience to help them secure permanent positions in our state’s health system.
“Communities across our state are screaming out for more nurses but the Australian Nurses Federation has said that during the first year of the Newman Government, 90% of graduate nurse applicants to Queensland Health failed to get a job.
“Queensland Health’s own Workforce Analysis and Research Unit predicts a dire, state-wide shortage of registered nurses — Queensland may be up to 5,000 nurses short by 2017.
“There is a better way and Labor’s Refresh Nursing policy will address the harm the LNP has done to the aspirations of young people training to be the next generation of frontline health workers in Queensland.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the Newman Government hid behind regional health boards while instructing them to cut staff but Labor in office would be more hands-on.
“The state’s 16 Hospital and Health Services have budgets totalling $11 billion a year,” she said.
“We will direct each HHS to engage graduate nurses using funds from existing budgets each regional health service has for employing temporary and agency contract nurses — including those on 457 visas.
“A total of $83 million a year in existing funds, or 75% of what’s needed, will be provided across all Hospital and Health Services and that will be topped up by an extra 25% or $28 million a year.
“Our graduate nurses are a precious resource and an investment in our future. Our policy will ensure Queensland has a sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce capable of providing high quality care for patients in the decades to come.
“Like all of our election commitments our Refresh Nursing policy will be delivered without the need for asset sales.
“Once again there is a clear choice for voters on 31 January. The LNP sacks nurses, Labor employs them. The LNP will sell your assets, Labor won’t,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Speaking on the Gold Coast today, Ms Palaszczuk said: “Labor will kick-start the careers of 4,000 graduate nurses over four years by employing each of them for a year in Queensland public hospitals.
“Unlike the LNP that cuts 4,800 jobs including 1,800 nurse and midwife positions, Labor will engage more nurses.
“And unlike the LNP, if Labor wins office these 4,000 graduate nurses will be employed over four years regardless of how individual local electorates vote on 31 January.
“Labor’s Refresh Nursing policy is an affordable and sensible way for Labor to begin repairing the damage the Newman Government’s cuts have inflicted on communities across our state.
“Our policy costing an extra $111 million over four years will employ 1,000 graduate nurses for 12 months each — kick-starting the careers of 4,000 graduate nurses over four years.
“This means 1,000 extra nurses on the frontline in Queensland hospitals. It also means that at the end of their 12-month employment period each graduate nurse will have had valuable practical experience to help them secure permanent positions in our state’s health system.
“Communities across our state are screaming out for more nurses but the Australian Nurses Federation has said that during the first year of the Newman Government, 90% of graduate nurse applicants to Queensland Health failed to get a job.
“Queensland Health’s own Workforce Analysis and Research Unit predicts a dire, state-wide shortage of registered nurses — Queensland may be up to 5,000 nurses short by 2017.
“There is a better way and Labor’s Refresh Nursing policy will address the harm the LNP has done to the aspirations of young people training to be the next generation of frontline health workers in Queensland.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the Newman Government hid behind regional health boards while instructing them to cut staff but Labor in office would be more hands-on.
“The state’s 16 Hospital and Health Services have budgets totalling $11 billion a year,” she said.
“We will direct each HHS to engage graduate nurses using funds from existing budgets each regional health service has for employing temporary and agency contract nurses — including those on 457 visas.
“A total of $83 million a year in existing funds, or 75% of what’s needed, will be provided across all Hospital and Health Services and that will be topped up by an extra 25% or $28 million a year.
“Our graduate nurses are a precious resource and an investment in our future. Our policy will ensure Queensland has a sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce capable of providing high quality care for patients in the decades to come.
“Like all of our election commitments our Refresh Nursing policy will be delivered without the need for asset sales.
“Once again there is a clear choice for voters on 31 January. The LNP sacks nurses, Labor employs them. The LNP will sell your assets, Labor won’t,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
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