Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation top job’s $370k pay package going to a ballot

Nurses’ union boss Elizabeth Dabars faces the first challenge to her top job – and its $370,000 pay package.

Nurses’ union boss Elizabeth Dabars faces the first challenge to her $370,000 a year job since she took the role of state secretary of the powerful Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2008.

Ms Dabars’ challenger, Emma Smith said her nomination to the Australian Electoral Commission was knocked back as ineligible — by the union itself.

She said she only found out nominations had opened by repeatedly contacting the AEC which is running the ballot, then found out she was blocked as ineligible when she rang the AEC to confirm her nomination had been received.

She says she was told no reason was given for the ineligibility claim, which the AEC eventually overturned.

Emma Smith, she is challenging Elizabeth Dabars for the job of Branch Secretary of the ANMF SA branch. Picture: Keryn Stevens

However, branch president Jocelyn Douglass refuted the claims, saying: “The determination of eligibility of any candidate is a decision for the AEC.”

Nominations opened on June 10 for two weeks and voting will be open from September 2 to October 18.

Registered union members will be sent a paper ballot by the AEC, which Ms Smith says may be the first time many find there is an election.

Ms Douglass said union rules require it to comply with all directions of the AEC for an election, including seeking nominations on the union website and placing an advertisement of the elections in The Advertiser’s public notices.

“The AEC will advise members of any ballot and invite members participation in that ballot,” she said.

Ms Smith, an emergency department nurse who also has been a police officer, is challenging for the job on issues including transparency.

Emma Smith, she is challenging Elizabeth Dabars for the job of Branch Secretary of the ANMF SA branch. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Elizabeth Dabars is running again. Picture: Greg Adams

“I’ve been a union member for 21 years and believe it is time for change,” she said.

“I am very concerned about transparency. With this election many members would not even know there was an election on, let alone nominations had opened and they could stand.”

Ms Smith has formally complained to the AEC about a video on the federation’s website home page which features 25 still photos and eight TV news videos of Ms Dabars recounting the past year’s successful industrial campaigns, saying it is a de facto campaign ad.

Representing almost 25,000 nurses comes with a lucrative pay packet.

Fair Work Commission documents show Ms Dabars’ remuneration in 2020-21 was $370,269 plus $11,136 car expenses, up $33,000 from the previous year, but branch president Jocelyn Douglass said this included back pay “to correct an underpayment.”

The following year it was listed as $351,464 plus $16,159 car expenses.

This compares to Victorian nurses union secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick on $314,341 plus $4679 for car expenses, federal secretary Annie Butler on $259,102 plus $10,434 for car expenses and Tasmania’s Emily Shepherd on $244,005 and no car expenses.

The branch secretary’s pay rate is set by the union’s state executive.

Ms Dabars is running again and says she “have our members backs, together there is much more to be done.”

“I have the runs on the board to keep achieving better industrial and professional outcomes for members and the community we serve,” she said. “Together, working closely with ANMF members, we have pushed hard and achieved outstanding results.”

She said these include legislative staffing ratios, pay rises, improved member benefits, stronger work safety laws, more ED staff, and increased regional hospital security.

Future campaigns include for additional beds, staff, staffing ratios, and improved wages for aged care and EN positions.

Originally published as Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation top job’s $370k pay package going to a ballot