Doctors offered 10 per cent pay rise over three years, but union says it’s not enough

SA doctors remain committed to next week’s industrial action despite the government’s latest pay rise offer, with the union saying the offer is “not new”.

SASMOA chief industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland with doctors at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, pictured in 2022. Picture: Tom Huntley

South Australian doctors remain committed to walking off the job demanding a wage increase after a “smoke and mirrors” pay rise offer of 10 per cent over three years, its union says.

The SA Salaried Medical Officers Association chief industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland lashed out at the state government’s offer on Thursday saying it was “not new”.

The government presented an offer of a minimum 10 per cent pay rise over three years and an additional $4050 wage increase to junior doctors in the first three years of clinical practice.

“What we have seen is the government finally admit after nine months of negotiations that our trainee medical officers are skimming the bottom of the pay barrel, compared to other states,” Ms Mulholland said.

“While increasing the first three tiers of the most junior doctors in SA is a good start, there is no such increase for those who have committed to a very long time to our health system, the community and patients.”

Ms Mulholland said the offer would be presented to members, who wanted a 10 per cent pay rise per year for three years and would hold an hour-long stop-work meeting at 8.30am on Wednesday.

However, the government said the 10 per cent wage increase offer was above current inflation and would ensure doctors’ pay was nationally competitive.

The government said under the offer a senior emergency department consultant would receive a pay increase of $50,000 over three years, lifting their salary to more than $600,000.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the pay offer was above current inflation. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Ms Mulholland said these doctors should be supported rather than have comments made to them that would “make them think about whether this is the state they want to work in”.

“I’m really hoping the government doesn’t undermine the commitment our doctors have to SA, the community and the patients, by the smoke and mirrors they seem to be using to negatively impact on the current doctors,” Ms Mulholland said.

“These are the same doctors the government was calling health heroes three years ago, now they’re no longer heroes but people who are paid too well.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said the offer was “fair and reasonable” and “on top of that, we’re also giving a substantial boost for regional doctors and junior doctors”.

Mr Picton said the base salary for interns would start at $88,869 and see them go from the second lowest paid in the country to the second highest of any mainland state.

The offer includes incentives of up to $40,000 to attract and retain regional doctors, formally recognising rural generalists, increasing minimum breaks between shifts and the ability to roster senior doctors on weekends.

“We hope the union and doctors will consider in detail the benefits of the offer that will help us continue our strong recruitment that has already seen a boost of more than 600 extra doctors into SA Health over three years,” Mr Picton said.

Mr Picton added that advice from SA Health was that the stop work meeting next week would not have any significant impact to patient safety.

It comes as health support officers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital will strike on Friday at 9.30am demanding a 20 per cent pay rise to bring them in line with interstate counterparts.

Originally published as Doctors offered 10 per cent pay rise over three years, but union says it’s not enough