Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh welcomes today’s NSW Government announcements on increased pay for public sector employees and the largest health workforce boost in history.
Mr Singh said the new public sector wages policy increases pay for employees including nurses, teachers and paramedics. Also, a record 10,148 full-time equivalent staff will be recruited to hospitals and health services over four years as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
“The new two-year wages policy provides among the highest public sector wages growth in the nation, with employees offered a 3.0 per cent remuneration increase per annum in 2022-23 and 2023-24, with a possible further 0.5 per cent on offer in 2023-24 for employees that make a substantial contribution to productivity enhancing reforms,” Mr Singh said.
“This provides for remuneration increases of up to 6.5 per cent over two years. The new policy applies to new industrial agreements struck from 1 July 2022.
“In addition, a one-off payment of $3000 will be provided to employees in the NSW Health Service in recognition of their work on the COVID-19 frontline. The payment covers paramedics, midwives, cleaners and all other permanent staff employed by the NSW Health Service.”
Mr Singh said the record health workforce investment, meanwhile, will help us care for health staff across the State, providing the respite and back-up they need. It will also boost staff numbers in hospitals to deliver quality health care in our community.
“Everyone is indebted to our health workers for their selfless efforts throughout the pandemic,” Mr Singh said.
“The additional staff will include nurses and midwives, doctors, paramedics, pathologists and scientific staff, pharmacists and allied health professionals, as well as support and ancillary staff.”
An important feature of the health workforce budget is a boost to NSW Ambulance, which has been under unprecedented pressure with historically high call rates.
“The NSW Government will provide immediate relief and support for NSW Ambulance, with $1.76 billion to recruit 2,128 new staff and open 30 more stations,” Mr Singh said.
