- The Cook Government welcomes the Australian Nursing Federation membership accepting its pay offer
- Salary and classification structure improvements recognise the skills, experience and value of our nursing and midwifery workforce
- WA nurses have been granted a 12.5 per cent pay increase over three years and are among the best paid in the country
- Agreements applying to more than 120,000 WA public sector employees have now been settled under the Cook Government's public sector wages policy
The Cook Government has welcomed the decision of the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) to accept terms for a replacement industrial agreement, which will benefit 23,000 nurses and midwives across the public sector.
Under the new terms, nurses and midwives will receive a wage increase of 5 per cent in the first year, followed by 4 per cent in 2025 and 3.5 per cent in 2026. Further adjustments to the classification structure will support longer term attraction and retention in the WA health system.
The offer also provides several new and improved conditions of employment - most notably, commitments regarding implementation of nurse/midwife to patient ratios, an annual allowance recognising the important work performed by Staff Development Nurses, and improvements to professional development leave.
The Cook Labor Government has now settled industrial agreements covering more than 120,000 public sector workers under the Public Sector Wages Policy Statement 2023 - including WA teachers, doctors, police, TAFE lecturers, education assistants, transit officers, hospital support workers and public servants.
The Cook Government continues to engage with unions in good faith to settle negotiations for other groups.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk:
"I congratulate the Australian Nursing Federation on achieving this outcome for their members at a time of profound change for the union.
"This agreement is a clear example of how we are applying the principle-based wages policy to tailor outcomes for each work group and deliver meaningful improvements.
"We believe our nurses are the best in the country and we have always been committed to reaching a deal that reflects their value and hard work."
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The Cook Government is pleased to make WA nurses and midwives among the best paid in the country.
"I'd like to thank the ANF for working constructively with us to deliver a great outcome for their members.
"We continue to roll out nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios in our hospitals, in collaboration with the ANF, and this new agreement also delivers other measures to improve conditions, such as State Development allowances".
