The Albanese government is urging the workplace umpire to delay pay rises of up to 25 per cent for aged care nurses until as late as 2027, arguing that they could exacerbate labour shortages and blow out the budget if it has to pay them from the start of next year.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) slammed the government’s position as potentially driving some nurses’ pay below carers in the sector and wants to phase in increases of 4.2 per cent to 25.5 per cent in just eight months, from January 1.