The Health Services Union (HSU) has strongly endorsed the Albanese government's record investments to strengthen Medicare in this year's federal budget, while noting a missed opportunity to provide cost-of-living relief for disability support workers.
Tuesday's budget locked in a 12% increase in public hospital funding - a record increase of $33.9 billion in our public hospitals - and $644 million for 50 more urgent care clinics to relieve pressure on our acute care system.
Meanwhile, an $8.5 billion boost for Medicare will make nine in every 10 GP visits bulk billed, and make reproductive health cheaper for 300,000 women.
This Budget is groundbreaking. Even still, Missing from the budget is an investment in better pay and conditions for disability workers with the sector facing an acute workforce crisis.
The HSU is campaigning for a new workforce compact for disability workers which would facilitate a desperately needed pay rise, with one in four disability workers considering leaving the sector.
The HSU is also calling on a re-elected Albanese Government to expand paid placements to other allied health professionals, beyond social work, nursing and teaching.
Quotes attributable to HSU National Secretary Lloyd Williams:
"Labor has a real plan to make health cheaper for everyday Australians, cut waitlines for critical health services, and reduce the gender pay gap, all while taking the pressure off frontline health workers."
"But there's unfinished business, with disability workers desperately needing a fair pay rise to stop them leaving the sector in huge numbers."
"We'll keep working with this Government to ensure it has a strong Allied Health Workforce Strategy, and raise wages in the NDIS above the minimum through new bargaining laws.
"There is a stark contrast with the Liberals who are planning massive cuts which will take workers backwards with rampant gig work and winding back workers' opportunity to win fair pay rises.
"Peter Dutton's cuts to services could bring the health system to its knees and reignite widespread rorts across the NDIS."
