In particular, the IRC recommends both parties enter into four weeks of intensive discussions.
During this time, the IRC recommends NSW Health begin paying nurses the interim 3 per cent increase, back-paid to 1 July 2024 contingent on the industrial action ceasing.
The Government will accept this . and has notified the Association of its intention to do so, on the basis the Association also agrees to the recommendation.
This is an opportunity for nurses to receive increased pay and patients to continue to receive care while the broader dispute is in the process of being resolved by the parties.
I want to reiterate, nothing is more important to me as Minister for Health than investing in our essential health workers.
Working in partnership with the Association and NSW Health, we have achieved much together since taking Government, including:
- Nurse retention levels reaching pre-COVID levels - as of 30 June 2024 retention has improved a further one per cent to 93.6 per cent over the past 12 months;
- Investing heavily in the nursing workforce - including $572 million to save the jobs of 1,112 whose positions were unfunded from 1 July 2024;
- Rolling out Safe Staffing Levels - implementation is now commencing across 16 of our Emergency Departments across metropolitan and regional NSW;
- Achieving nurse numbers at record levels - the nursing workforce has increased by over 2,000 FTE to over 56,000 FTE since taking office; and
- Removing the wages cap and delivering much needed wage increases - the majority of NSWNMA members voted to accept a 4.5 per cent wage increase last year, the highest increase in over a decade.
