Qld election: Premier facing major wage bill hike as union pushes for huge rise

Whoever is Premier come October 27 could face a whopping wages bill increase, with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union pledging to fight “really hard” for a pay rise above inflation.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives state secretary Sarah Beaman. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Premier Steven Miles faces a whopping wages bill, with the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union pledging to fight “really hard” for a pay rise above inflation.

QNMU state secretary Sarah Beaman said, no matter who wins government, the union would be fighting for a wages increase beyond inflation.

“It’s absolutely critically important,” she said.

“The pay is not just about what is in your pocket.

“Everyone’s experiencing the cost of living crisis. It’s a combination of being able to have the funds to be able to live, but also being able to be remunerated appropriately.

“The government does have a wages policy and we will fight really, really hard to make sure that that government wages policy is at a level that allows people to have a real pay rise.”

Mr Miles conceded the government would be open to an increase beyond inflation but argued public servants would be paid better under Labor.

Premier Steven Miles said the government would be open to an increase beyond inflation. Picture: Adam Head

“We’ll have to see the circumstances when we set that wages policy as you know, inflation is now abating,” he said.

“The most recent inflation figure was 2.7 per cent.”

“We have a long and proud history of bargaining in good faith with our employees and their union representatives and delivering them strong EBAs.”

Mr Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman made the comments at an announcement Labor would deliver 15,000 new frontline and support health staff over the next four years if elected on October 26.

Ms Fentiman denied the workforce announcement was a renouncement of the strategy from the government’s June budget.

“What we put in our workforce strategy was that we were going to need 46,000 workers and we’re committed to that to 2032 but today we’re here giving you the exact numbers of the doctors, the nurses, the allied health professionals, the operational staff that we need to keep our hospitals running, and the admin staff for the next four years,” she said.

Originally published as Qld election: Premier facing major wage bill hike as union pushes for huge rise