- by Graham Holton
- The Guardian
- Issue #2197
Queensland unions have been closely watching how Premier David Crisafulli’s Qld Liberal National Party would approach rising wages and increased public debt.
Initial union response has been largely critical, seeing an over emphasis on spending restraint and public-sector cuts. The government plans to reduce staff numbers in 13 departments, which would increase workloads and weaken services. A total of $9.3 billion will be spent on cost-of-living relief.
Amy MacMahon, Greens MP for South Brisbane, said the budget does “nothing to help frontline workers like teachers and nurses pay their bills, despite years of stagnating wages, staff shortages and worsening conditions.”
The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) described the budget as “missed opportunities and twisted priorities,” needing more investment in the public service sector and cost-of-living relief. General secretary, Michael Clifford, said: “Queenslanders deserve quality healthcare, education, public safety, and mental health services. That can’t happen unless we also have a workforce that is trained and skilled and paid fairly.”
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) had called for permanent jobs for graduates, broader safe staffing ratios, more regional housing support, and measures against workplace violence. While health spending remains high and more frontline staff are planned, health unions argue that workforce investment does not go far enough.
The QNMU has been demanding a 5.1 per cent annual wage increase, up from the 2.5 per cent rate the state government offered. A representative said, “A fair wage rise, which keeps up with the cost of living, is critical to the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives in this state.”
The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU), Together Queensland (a branch of the Australian Services Union), and the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) have been critical. They are against public-sector job cuts, and call for more investment in health and education staffing.
The Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) is demanding a 5.5 per cent increase as the “absolute bare minimum” for its members. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) proposed a 5.1 per cent annual wage increase for public sector workers, but that has been rejected.
Crisafulli’s campaign described the LNP’s policies as “the right plan,” but for working people it’s anything but.
